I think theres an issue with an install

ctjomac · September 2013

I gave my niehbor some advise this spring when he got bids for a new gas boiler. 1: I asked him to have them install a drop header which he elected not to do and 2: run both dry returns down to meet the 28" drop then tie them together wet then into the boiler

The contractor instead left both dry returns tied together (as they already were) up high and tied them together about one foot above the boiler. I thought that this was the wrong way to do it. Will he have problems as a result of this? Is it acceptable to tie 2 dry returns together and only have about 1 foot of wet return.

Rod · September 2013

Connecting Returns (Drips)

Hi - The returns shouldn't be joined until they are well below the boiler's waterline level, otherwise they will cross feed, Here is a great video by Gerry Gill showing what happens when two different return pipes join above the waterline level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRsyebxLm9M

In this case, the previous replaced boiler had a much higher waterline so originally the horizontal pipe (which was originally the wet return) has turned into a dry return as the new boiler has a much lower water line so that now the two returns join above the new boiler's waterline and cross feed.

Gerry Gill is a very experienced Cleveland steam pro. His website http://www.gwgillplumbingandheating.com/

has a lot of good info on steam heating.

-Rod

ctjomac · September 2013

Thanks for the video link...

Is it legal to tie the returns together ABOVE the water line?. Also, what symptons should I tell them to look for and will this create a dangerous situation for the owner or boiler?

Hap_Hazzard · September 2013

It's legal

There's no law against stupidity, and it's safe, but they will have a devil of a time balancing their venting and getting their radiators to heat evenly.

Rod · September 2013

Returns

Hi - It’s not an issue of legality nor is it dangerous. It’s just with the return piping being configured this way, it can make the system much less efficient. How inefficient varies. Having the returns cross feeding can stop or slow down the distribution of steam in the main being cross fed. The symptoms of this happening would be cold radiators and/or radiators which take a long time to heat. If system is slow heating that means the boiler’s burner is operating for a longer period of time until the thermostat setting is satisfied. More burner “on” time = more fuel used.

In a lot of cases returns, like we are discussing, did originally join below the boiler’s waterline as the older boilers that were used when the return piping was originally installed had a much higher waterline. More modern boilers are much more compact with lower waterline levels and so the length of the returns need to be adjusted so that the junction of the returns will be below the modern boiler’s waterline level.

Correcting the returns is usually a fairly simple fix either by extending the returns down and then joining them below the boiler’s waterline level or by using what is known as “false waterline” configuration. Extending the returns is usually the easiest of the two.

- Rod

ctjomac · September 2013

Thanks Again Rod,,,but how

can a boiler intaller who has suppossedly been doing this for 20 years do that in good faith to himself let alone his customer. It's upsetting to me (a rookie) Its kinda sad to see my neighbor dish out that kind of money this past spring and wont realize it until the colder side of winter.

Rod · September 2013

Boiler Installation

The chances are that the installer who did your neighbor’s boiler is a good guy and was acting in good faith. The problem is that he doesn’t seem to really understand steam heating. Just because someone has been doing the same thing for 20 years doesn’t necessarily mean that they have been doing it “Right” for 20 years! Unfortunately this situation is fairly common. Monitor this board during the coming heating season you’ll see some really “interesting” boiler installs.

Steam Heating is really a Lost Art !

Charlie from wmass · September 2013

If the boiler is in southern CT

then that is pretty normal for installations. It is WRONG, but normal as everyone down there seems to do it that way.

I think theres an issue with an install

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