Boiler a MESS!

Chris_35

First of all thanks for all of your help here.
I have read my new book The Lost Art of Steam Heating and I now know for absolute sure that my boiler was installed completely incorrectly.
- no hartford loop
- no header
- no equalizer
- riser too small AND goes straigt into a bullhead T.
My system crashes, bangs and spits water.
I calculated the speed of steam to be going up the riser at about 50 feet per second, dragging lots of water with it I'm sure.
Now I'm wondering what I should do next. The company that installed it claims that it was done correctly!
It will cost ALOT to fix this mess.

Thad English

contract?

Perhaps, in the contract there was a stipulation about piping to the boiler manufacturer's specs? If so, then you can get them to do it right with the help of a lawyer. If not, then I think you may be clicking on the 'Find a Professional' link and writing another check.

On the plus side, you already paid for the boiler itself which is a large portion of the total bill anyway. And just think of all the fuel you will save by having it piped and running correctly. (Last year, I was in the same boat that you are currently in, so I feel your pain.)

If you are near Philadelphia, the Pompettis are great.

Dale

Give the first guy a chance

The guy who did the install deserves a chance to fix it to look like the picture in the manufacturers install instructions. Explain your concern and see if they will make it right and make you happy. Make sure the dimension "A" pipe slope ect. are checked by you prior to the fix. If you want the extras shown in the pictures here be prepared to pay or at least the materials like new wet return pipe and isolation valves. ANYTHING that's good but not on the mfg. print. Be prepared to pay for at least a half a day of skimming time too if the original bid didn't include that. If the installer just wants you the headache to go away agree on a cash pmt. and get on with your life.

joel_19

PIPING

Go down to your basement get the boiler manufacterers instructions and open them up they will show the correct way to pipe it. mpresent those to the company who did it and ask for an explanation.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

clammy

some don't listen

You'll find alot out there that say they can do steam but don't follow the manafactors specs and the system does not perform correctly .Had a simalar sceniro recently on a cleaning found a 6 section boiler firing a .75 noz and a flame blowing out the peep shot her downn and pulled the top 4 of the 6 section where filled with lime and calium the chimmey blew out steam advised the ho and gave him what i though was a great price for replacement and propper near boiler piping with insulation .He just call and was quoted as to say we where thgieves and that his plumber says the boilers fine and the water in and around the boiler was from us washing it down with a hose on a small wet base boiler i've never used a hose ever.So he has quit us so i'll wait till i see some one else there either down firing it or replacing it i personal know what kind of work he,ll get and know what he deserves it copper header banging pipes surging water level and best of all higher fuel bills .It always cost more to do the job right and if you don't have the time or money to do it right the first time you never will peace clammy

Chris_35

Trust me, I am not a cheapo. I would have gladly paid lots more to have this boiler installed correctly in the first place. But, I don't think it would have cost more, they put ALOT of effort into piping it wrong.
Also, I had no clue as to how steam worked at the time, it was totally new to me. Now I'll bet I know quite a bit more than the guy who installed it.
I could only get 2 quotes for the original job, both quotes were about the same so I ended up going with the bigger company. Big Mistake!
Anyway, thanks for your help and comments.

jerry scharf_2

getting people educated

Clammy,

I keep on thinking that when contractors quote on clean up jobs like this, they should offer to lend the person a copy of Dan's "We Got Steam Heat" for a week. Since there is clearly a "difference of opinion" between you as the person cleaning up and the person who installed it, adding a neutral third party could make these sales easier. If they like it, they can buy it from you and keep it. Make sure to glue your card onto the inside front cover.

I'm sure some won't want to read it and prefer calling you a thief. I'm sure others will, and they will know who the thief is. It gives you a chance to talk to the person again when you pick up the book.

Even if you lose a few copies of the book, I'll bet you make more sales and more than pay for the losses. You will have informed and possibly excited customers. When their friends complain about steam heat problems, the book get's lent, with your card still there... Sounds like a huge win to me.

Dan, how about a 5 or 10 copy discount on the book to help get contractors on board?

jerry

kevin coppinger_4

actually Dan does...

see the bookstore. kpc

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"