Flex in 1-inch pipe?

Steve Garson

One of the returns on my steam system is not pitched adequately. I can hear the gurgle of water when the steam comes on. The pipe runs along the ceiling for a length of fifteen feet before it come to a tee (vent at top and pipe to floor at bottom).

I need to pitch this pipe downward. How much of a pitch should I add to this fifteen foot run? Is there enough flexibility to allow me to just cut and thread the vertical pipe, adding a union, or will I need to configure a "U" of pipe to make the adjustments?

bigugh_4

In the ole days,

The plumber would cut a crooked thread on the upper
pipe "T" thread and make up the pipe such the it all fit. This was done with the "Drip Screw" on the threader. Many plumbers today do not know what the "Drip Screw " is for, and many threaders today have no way to cut a crooked thread. You may only need an inch or slightly more to get the Pipe to drain. Down hill is down hill! If the verticle pipe is long it may be that you could cut it and place a union near the lower end and rack it into connecting. You could bend the pipe slightly to get the fit. Heating it with a big torch. You could cut a new pipe and bend it cold by any means possible. You'll only need a slight bend. Good luck with this project You'll do OK.

Al Letellier_9

crooked thread

Funny you should mention crooked threads. I cut one the other day for a young heating tech in our area who was complaining about having to pitch oil tanks and not being able to have a long riser before the swing joint. When I told him to cut a crooked thread, he just laughed, until I took him to my shop and showed him how it's done.
I am really enjoying being the "old guy with all the tricks". It's even more fun to pass them along and see the look on their faces when we "old farts" teach them something new.

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bob young

65R

nice to see a few of the boys remember how to use the 65R remember when they were not JAM-PROOF ? i learned about that the hard way !! HOW ABOUT CHANGING THE DIES !! lol