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This Week's Steamer Replacement

Steamhead
Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
1960s American-Standard atmospheric on a Broomell system, rotted out. I didn't get the shots until after the demo had started, but the old boiler had only a single 2-inch pipe connecting it to the 3" steam main, which then splits into two 2-1/2" counterflow mains. We'd already done the venting, as evidenced by the Gorton #2 on the dry return- the two mains also have Gortons.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    The new 5-section Columbia

    with 2-stage steam separation- the 3-inch header and the steam takeoff which jumps up then back down to a drip. The drip also handles condensate from the mains. We moved the steam main connection closer to the boiler with a 3-inch nipple and elbow so we wouldn't have pipes dropping so far from the boiler.



    And just look at Gordo's copper work! Another masterpiece.



    We've been using more Columbias since they made the Carlin EZ-Gas burner available to use with them. The local Columbia store stocks all these boilers and burners, whereas with other brands they have to be ordered. This was a planned, rather than an emergency replacement, so the time frame was less critical. But this boiler was also the closest match to the job.



    One interesting thing we found: the low-pressure gauge seldom registers any pressure at all, whereas on the old boiler we always saw a few ounces. I believe this was due to the old boiler's improper piping- we now have twice the room for steam to leave the boiler, two 2" pipes instead of just one.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    Another very nice steamer!

    Columbia aught to give you a free boiler for all the advertising you do for them. Looks great.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • billtwocase
    billtwocase Member Posts: 2,385
    Columbia

    Frank, that looks like a Utica SFH. Is it rebadged?
    Danny Scully
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited May 2013
    Right

    Columbia's cast-iron boilers have been rebadged Uticas for as long as I can remember. They started out making steel boilers and added these to be able to offer cast-iron residential units.



    At least in our area, the difference between buying Columbias rather than Uticas is the people who sell them, which makes quite a difference. 



    We now have three options for gas-fired wet-base power-burner residential steamers: Columbia CSFE, Slant/Fin Intrepid and Smith G8.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Paul S_3
    Paul S_3 Member Posts: 1,261
    just a question

    Why the double drop header?....is it to dry stream out more? And should I start doing that on my installations....and you dripped the main because its a counter flow system....? If you didn't have a drop header no need to drip?....thank you Paul S
    ASM Mechanical Company
    Located in Staten Island NY
    Servicing all 5 boroughs of NYC.
    347-692-4777
    ASMMECHANICALCORP@GMAIL.COM
    ASMHVACNYC.COM
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/asm-mechanical-company
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    That drip had to be there anyway

    to collect condensate from the mains. So we used that to advantage and piped it to assist with steam separation. It also gets some of the piping up out of the way, so we won't bump our heads on it when maintaining the boiler.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • billtwocase
    billtwocase Member Posts: 2,385
    Thanks Frank

    Haven't seen one in these parts as of yet. Thought steel Emerald? was their all.  Thanks again
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    They still make the Emerald

    but only for hot-water. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,584
    Art

    Another beauty by Frank and Gordo.

    Keep the pictures coming I always enjoy looking at them.
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • malex
    malex Member Posts: 106
    Why was there a Gorton 2 on the riser?

    That does not make any sense does it?
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Look at it again

    that's the dry return, where it drops into the main return manifold. On the Broomell, as on almost all Vapor systems, air from the radiators is routed to the dry return and vented at a central location. That Gorton is the central vent.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 856
    Thank You All For Your Comments and Questions!

    Thank you again.



    To add to the job, we installed, as usual, a proper sight glass blow-down valve and drain hose.  This simple addition can really help show the customer the need for further cleaning of the boiler.  It will also help keep the sight glass clean without removing it.



    The friction washers that most sight glass kits come with are soft steel that have been lightly coated with brass.  These are ruthlessly eliminated and replaced with brass washers.



    On the return that is not shown, the copper threads into a  2" x 2" x 1-1/2" cast iron tee and a 2" extra heavy nipple that returns into the boiler.  The other end of the tee has a 2" x 3/4" bushing and a ball valve boiler drain.  The so-called "boiler drains" that the manufacturers ltend to supply with their package boilers are scrapped.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc
  • ttekushan_3
    ttekushan_3 Member Posts: 958
    sweating the details makes for pleasurable long term ownership

    Great point about the boiler drains. Wimpy stuff.



    I like to be able to "blow down" a boiler. "Dribble down" is just not a real alternative!
    terry
This discussion has been closed.