Correction of NearBoiler Piping on New Boiler Install

DaveGateway

Last year I hired a contractor to replace the original steam boiler in my 4800 sqft home (two pipe steam with condensate return pump). I installed a Weil McClain 450K BTU EGH steam boiler. Since I still have six radiators that do not heat and water hammer in one of my two main steam loops, I hired a different contractor (found him on this site) who initially got the radiators working (clogged trap in wet return and backed down system pressure). While here the new contractor he pointed out a number of problems with the near boiler piping on the new boiler.

The original installer has agreed to return to correct some near boler piping (header is undersized, steam feed has a ngegative slope, and the distance from the waterline to the header is less than 24").

Since I am going to have the near boiler piping corrected, should I also have him do the following? I would appreciate your expert advice:

1) Should the boiler be place on the floor instead of on blocks? The original installer said he placed the boiler on blocks to maintain the "A" Dimension (Ref; Lost Art) but he could not explain why he couldn't put the boiler on the floor - as far as I can tell, doing so will not make any wet returns dry (Ref: pg26-27 Lost Art).

2) Should I insist on header offsets (Ref: pg 52 Lost Art) - I have circled the areas where the risers meet the headers - they are 90 degree angles at the present.

3) Is there a minimum distance required/recommended between the riser closest to the steam takeoff and the steam take-off? One contractor I consulted said there should be a 12" minimum - I show this as dimension X on the picture below.

4) Likewise is there a minimum horizontal distance required/recommended between the steam take-off and the return piping bend? - I show this as dimension Z on the picture below.

5) Should the equalizer piping be modified so the 45 degree jog back to the plane of the boiler water feed be dropped so as to be below the waterline?

6) Should I consider a drop header? What would be the advantages? If I have at least 24" between the waterline and the header, will that give me enough height to produce dry steam?

Once I get the boiler piped correctly, we will work on cleaning out returns and repacing traps. I am glad to have found a new contractor who seems willing to help me straighten out my system.

Thank you,
Mickey Shield
Grosse Pointe Michigan