steam heat

Darin(in Michigan)

If he used a concentric reducer, condensate can collect in the bottom of the bell and be pushed into the top of the pipe by the steam. It is advised that all steam fittings are eccentric with the flat at the bottom to allow condensate drainage

Len_4

I had a plummer come in to change old piping going to a an upstairs bathroom. It has a small steam radiater. He installed a copper line to it. The line starts out as cast iron down in the basement, then before it disappears into the ceiling in the basement he tied into it with copper. I was told this would be ok. Now when the boiler runs, after awhile i here a rumbling noise coming threw the wall and when your in the bathroom. Radiater gets hot, noise is annoying. I have a feeling this is not common practice. Is there anything i can do . I am not sure if i can replace it now with cast iron. At the time walls were open . Any advice .Thankyou

Christian Egli_2

Living with annoying noise, not necessary

Probably the size of the pipe is too small, is the new line just as big as the old one or did your guy use some reducers? By sizing the radiator it feeds, you can figure out what pipe you should have.

More importantly, the new line may not have a proper slope pointing downwards back to the steam main. That would be a big source of water hammer.

Remember, copper expands a whole lot, and slopes that may seem OK when cold may get cancelled out by elongating risers.

Len_5

Hi, thanks for the response. The copper line is alittle smaller then the cast iron. I,m pretty shore the line runs straight down the wall from the second floor to the basement then theirs an elbow that goes to the cast iron line. It looks alittle smaller then cast iron pipe,but not by much. the bathroom radiater is small,it has 3 cores to it and probably around 3 1/2 ft high. Is their anythinh i can try on my own before i call someone in. Thanks

Len_5

I also forget tt mention ,that its not really a water hammer ,its a water rumble or not very load ,just load enough to be anouying. thanks

Len_6

I was just told that the noise i am hearing from the cooper pipe is the steam is trying to pass the condensate. The copper pipe is difinitly a little smaller then the black pipe its tied into. Looks like i will have to try and replace the copper. Was told the copper joints could come apart. Anybody have any insight on this. Thanks

Long Beach Ed

Pitch?

Make sure the pipes and radiator are properly pitched toward the riser. Then check that there are no reducers, as mentioned above, to trap water.

Then call back the Load who put this crap in. Copper is an inferior way to pipe steam.

Ed