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More copper piping.

JStar
JStar Member Posts: 2,752
edited September 2014 in Strictly Steam
Out with the copper. In with the steel. We also installed a 2-stage Gas Control Valve, which seems to be going on to every boiler we touch. Maybe one day, I'll take some videos of the valve in action.

EDIT: The photos are out of order and I don't know how to fix that yet.











Comments

  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    Damn nice save there Joe! Beautiful piping work.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    Nice pictures too!
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    Hey Joe- which two stage gas valve are you using? i know i asked a long time ago, but forgot what you said. We are still using the maxitrol which isn't the easiest to obtain.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

    Dave0176
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752

    Hey Joe- which two stage gas valve are you using? i know i asked a long time ago, but forgot what you said. We are still using the maxitrol which isn't the easiest to obtain.

    ROBERTSHAW 700-053 for up to 300K and 700-062 for up to 700K. Both are for direct ignition or intermittent pilot only. Although, I've made it work for standing pilot by adding a BASO pilot safety switch.

    We buy them from supplyhouse.com.
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    Thanks Joe.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Excellent job, as usual.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    edited September 2014
    You're a true artist with screw pipe and any other pipe.

    A true piping Picasso. Keep working that Square Root of Two (1.414). It works if you work it.

    And that Blue Monster Pipe Tape is the BEST, isn't it. What breed is that white pipe paste?
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,656
    Nice! Do you re-insulate the near-boiler piping with fiberglass?
    Can't believe the original copper header...you'd think someone would read the instructions....
  • nycpa
    nycpa Member Posts: 108
    I had two questions, the header coming out of the boiler looks like it comes down then into another two headers then into the main pipe. Can steam come down from the pipe then back up without turning into water? Second question, the boiler head had one pipe coming out but now I see two? What was the reason for that? Would like to educate myself. Thanks
  • gennady
    gennady Member Posts: 839
    2 stage gas valve is a nice thing. I would offer it myself. Is it approved by boiler manufacturer?
  • Don_197
    Don_197 Member Posts: 184
    NYCPA that is what is called a "drop header" and it ensures that ONLY steam makes it into the mains, as any water saturated steam WILL condense and head back down to the water line via the equalizer line you see coming out of the far end of the drop header. the reason he piped in TWO takeoffs from the boiler is BECAUSE IT HAS TWO!! YAY!! that slows the velocity of the steam down which again will cause any water to drop out and head back to the water line and not get carried over into the mains. He did a beautiful job........made me smile this morning.....thanks for that 8-)

    Don
  • nycpa
    nycpa Member Posts: 108
    Is the drop header required or a preferred way to pipe. I have a similar weil McCain boiler that's in the picture and I have one takeoff going up into the main, there's at least a few feet of space between the boiler and main
  • Don_197
    Don_197 Member Posts: 184
    A drop header is never required, not always needed, but a VERY good steam piping practice to ensure nice dry steam into your mains. Does your boiler have two takeoffs and only one is being utilized? Do you have problems with wet steam or hammering in your mains?
  • nycpa
    nycpa Member Posts: 108
    Pretty Sure one take off I don't see a second connection on the top, my bro in law has a burnham and he has one takeoff that is capped. No hammering in mains. I guess best thing is leave it alone.
  • Don_197
    Don_197 Member Posts: 184
    edited September 2014
    Absolutely........don't fix it if it ain't broke. Often a drop header is added when a new boiler is installed because the newer boilers have smaller "lungs" (space from the top of the water line to the exit of the boiler) and a drop header slows things down and gives the steam a chance to drop it's water before heading into the mains. I have seen many jobs where a 6' tall downfired 1940's boiler was replaced with a 26" tall Weil McLean and the velocity of the exiting steam was so much higher that it just scooped up bucketfuls of water and took it out into the mains with it.
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
    icesailor said:

    You're a true artist with screw pipe and any other pipe.

    A true piping Picasso. Keep working that Square Root of Two (1.414). It works if you work it.

    And that Blue Monster Pipe Tape is the BEST, isn't it. What breed is that white pipe paste?

    We use Monster Tape on every piece of steam/hydronic piping. It allows you to use a lot less dope than normal. The white stuff is made by a few different brands (Hercules, Oatey, etc.). It's real thick, and has a melting point of 500F. We use it almost exclusively for gas lines, because it's just too messy to use on everything else. It's PTFE dope.