Conflicting advice

BostonGC

I had a couple folks come look at my re-installation of a steam system in a house we are moving.(Anyone ever move a VERY LARGE House?)

At any rate, we are putting everything back pretty much the way we found it, with exception of the wet returns which will be rerouted - no big deal there.

We are installing a 10 inch I beam right where a steam main wants to go - so the question I have is can i put a Tee in the main to pick up the radiatior we need to reach if pipes are pitched properly?

One guy says yes, no problem, one guy says no, whole thing needs to be redone(all piping)

Needless to say, just picking the extra rad up without a lot of rework is MUCH less $$. But I want to get it back and working correctly, the first time.

Only thing I know is I took off a radiator on one job and the thing banged like no tomorrow. Put it back and everything was fine. That seemed to indicate that this stuff is more art than science. ( Never could figure out how the heck the system knew I took off that tiny rad in that kitchen.....)

Homeowner says the system worked fine last year.

Here is an attempt at a simple pic:

was


r----------r-------
|
|
|
r---------|
|
|
B

want to be:

r r-------
| |
| |
| |
|----r---------|
|
|
B

There are 2 other mains. Only one pipe out of the top of the burnham boiler. We don't anticiapte any changes to the near piping, with the exception of increasing the supply risers becasue of the increase headroom in the basement. everyone seems to agree this will be a good thing.

any thoughts are welcome. My inclination is to try the simple solution and if it does not work, go to plan b.

Not sure what plan b is at this point though.

reason for the 10 inch I beam is to allow a garage under.

thinking of going to the sessions in plainview just for the heck of it. can't hurt.

BostonGC

Conflicting advice need opinions

I had a couple folks come look at my re-installation of a steam system in a house we are moving.(Anyone ever move a VERY LARGE House?)

At any rate, we are putting everything back pretty much the way we found it, with exception of the wet returns which will be rerouted - no big deal there.

We are installing a 10 inch I beam right where a steam main wants to go - so the question I have is can i put a Tee in the main to pick up the radiatior we need to reach if pipes are pitched properly?

One guy says yes, no problem, one guy says no, whole thing needs to be redone(all piping)

Needless to say, just picking the extra rad up without a lot of rework is MUCH less $$. But I want to get it back and working correctly, the first time.

Only thing I know is I took off a radiator on one job and the thing banged like no tomorrow. Put it back and everything was fine. That seemed to indicate that this stuff is more art than science. ( Never could figure out how the heck the system knew I took off that tiny rad in that kitchen.....)

Homeowner says the system worked fine last year.

Simple pic attached



There are 2 other mains. Only one pipe out of the top of the burnham boiler. We don't anticiapte any changes to the near piping, with the exception of increasing the heightt of supply risers becasue of the increase headroom in the basement. everyone seems to agree this will be a good thing.

any thoughts are welcome. My inclination is to try the simple solution and if it does not work, go to plan b.

Not sure what plan b is at this point though.

reason for the 10 inch I beam is to allow a garage under.

thinking of going to the sessions in plainview just for the heck of it. can't hurt.