Paging Frank Wilsey, Paging Frank Wilsey.....

[Deleted User]

Here's one for you Frank. Customer says he's losing water from somewhere. Boiler loses water even when not firing. Can not see all areas of combustion chamber, and boiler is covered in ACM. Wants to replace boiler with one of them new fangled. I looked at the system. I think it's a 2 pipe vapor system, but cannot identify all of the cast iron hams on this puppy, so I photographed it and am presenting them for your inspection and recommendations.

I looked in TLAOSH and that is where I came up with the impression that it's a 2 pipe vapor system.

? is, what should I look out for in replacing this beast. The HO says it is perfectly silent. I want to keep it that way...

Thanks for all you do Frank. I owe you one if you ever get out to Colorful COlorado.

ME

Steamhead (in transit)

That's the same system shown in chapter 15

under "The Boiler Return Trap and the Alternating Receiver". It's a Dunham Return system. It's pretty standard Vapor with a Return Trap.

I'm not sure what the "vent device" is (how is it piped in?), but the other two items are standard. The vent trap probably has a vacuum check on the outlet, this should be removed.

Watch out for loop seals which isolate steam main drips from dry return drips. These must remain below the waterline.

If there are any buried returns, assume they are leaking and replace them.

Look for crossover traps between the ends of the steam mains and the dry returns. These vented air from the steam mains into the dry returns.

You will probably need to add venting capacity since new boilers make steam a lot faster than older ones.

Let us know how you make out!