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Copper Underground condensate return - expansion joint needed?

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elfie
elfie Member Posts: 266
in Strictly Steam
have a 50 foot underground copper condensate return line that began to leak at the expansion joint.



it was an older expansion joint not rated for steam



is there a need for an expansion joint (what is common practice?)



is there a recommended expansion joint 1 1/4 inch that would be appropriate?





i tried to order a steam rate expansion joint and it had to be a custom built joint (ie. not off the shelf which seems odd)



thanks

Comments

  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    expansion joint

    there should not be steam in the condensate return line--only hot water.--nbc
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,828
    Agreed...

    after a fashion.  If this is in fact a wet return -- which if it is underground I expect it is -- there should always be water in it, and you can probably get away with an expansion joint rated for hot water.



    I apologise if my previous comment on this issue was a little misleading; I hadn't quite added up that this would probably be a wet return.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • elfie
    elfie Member Posts: 266
    underground return is dry

    this underground return is not wet as it appears to slope downward into a condensate receiver.



    so its a dry underground return that is at risk for steam flow
This discussion has been closed.

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