Heat Timer and steam leaks

ttekushan_2

would someone concerned about leaks raise the pressure to 10 psi? Or is this an indication that many people there have their fingers in the steam pie? I say put an electric fence around the controls.

Jim Bergmann

Steam leaks and Heat Timer

I have a church on city steam. Most of the radiation is copper fin tube coils. Several years ago I installed a Heat Timer on the system to cycle on and off the steam with the outdoor temperature. All of the steam traps were replace the year before. (Drip and radiator) Also I installed a step-opening pilot on the Spence valve to slowly open and pressurize the system. (20 minutes to full open) The first Spence drops the pressure from 100 to 10 psi and the second to 1-2 psi. The church saw over $15,000 in savings the first year. Since then someone has removed the heat timer and controls claiming that steam leaks are being created by cycling the steam and the system would operate better and last longer. They have also raised the pressure to 10 psi, which I have lowered back down. My question is will cycling the steam put excessive stress on the system and cause leaks, or is this a symptom of age, The building is 150 years old. I was thinking the quality of the steam they are buying might have been the problem during the time there were many leaks.

Steamhead (in transit)

With $15,000 in fuel savings

they can afford to fix any leaks. Put it back on line. You might want to adjust the cycle length so the system never completely cools down between cycles- maybe 3 cycles per hour instead of one, to take the thermal variations out of the picture.

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

[Deleted User]

Ah. The old

keep the system hot & nothing contracts, & even if something leaks, the water will probably evaporate as it runs across the hot fittings gambit. Nice theory, if you don't have to pay the fuel bill.

Like the 20 minutes to full open. Slow & easy is the way to go w/ steam valves.