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Steam Replacement and oil to gas conversion

Dave0176
Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
edited August 2015 in Strictly Steam
Still in the process of replacing, almost done.
The old boiler was a Weil McLain Oil fired, owner said is was about 40 years old. He had water hammer galore, one runout went slightly down before going to the upfeed riser, so no way for water to properly return, so I made it drip into a new wet return. Two other runouts were the first runouts off the main, neither were dripped properly and came off the main sideways at a 90° angle and both runouts had no swing joints what so ever, and he had water hammer there too, so I ran a new main into a new dry return and completely repiped the runouts with new swing joints. This is were also a repiped radiator on the second floor bathroom from a renovation years ago, the upfeed riser fell out of the ceiling when we removed the runout, of course it was copper an since they no had clue how to pipe a runout had no swingjoints, so all the movement probably broke the copper joint loose, the pipe was all green so it must have been leaking for years.
The B&G cast 100 was given to me by the owner as he was told to buy a new pump by his oil company last year in case his failed, so he wanted me to use it, I informed him cast isnt the best idea for steam but, he bought it already so we used it.
The new boiler is a Weil McLain EG 35.
DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......

Comments

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    Nice work, though the gauge glass being on that side would drive me up the wall.

    Strange they don't provide tappings on both sides for that.

    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
  • jonny88
    jonny88 Member Posts: 1,139
    Dave I think that is a beautiful neat job and hope the owner knows how far you went above the minimum boiler install requirements.
    If you dont mind could you contact me as to how much your material list was etc.Where I am there are very few who could get the job you did as they want to be done in a day.Very nice thanks for sharing.
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,405
    great job how many zones are hydronic
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    Snowmelt said:

    great job how many zones are hydronic

    Just one zone for the newer addition family room.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    edited August 2015
    I found this little gem on his kitchen radiator. This is after I scraped the 80 years of paint off and the siphon tube had broken off.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
    ChrisJ
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Very Nice!
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    Nice job
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    edited August 2015
    All done...
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
    jonny88
  • RobG
    RobG Member Posts: 1,850
    Dave0176 said:

    All done...

    Not quite, the gas valve is closed and a combustion analysis still needs to be done. ;) Nice work!
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    edited August 2015
    RobG said:

    Dave0176 said:

    All done...

    Not quite, the gas valve is closed and a combustion analysis still needs to be done. ;) Nice work!
    I'm curious,
    Has anyone ever seen where a stock atmospheric boiler connected to the proper vent, with the proper manifold pressure failed an analysis? Is doing an analysis the quick and easy way to get an "all is well" on everything, vent and all?

    I do hope guys check the manifold pressure as a minimum as mine was wrong when I changed the CGV. I was burning at 132,000 input instead of the proper 125,000 input. The Ecosteam was the first thing to give it away but checking it with a manometer confirmed it.

    Whether or not that would really hurt anything I don't know, but I do know it wasn't correct as per the manufacturer's specifications.
    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
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    Clocking the meter is also one of the steps in initial start up along with a host of others..Clocking the meter is like checking your heart rate...kinda important... If nothing else go by the book would be my thinking
  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,948
    Looks good. If I had to really find something to critique, it would be that there appears to be no vaporstat. I also like to pour a concrete base if I have time and it's not an emergency install in the middle of winter. I assume you are using the B&G to run a hot water zone?
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    j a said:

    Clocking the meter is also one of the steps in initial start up along with a host of others..Clocking the meter is like checking your heart rate...kinda important... If nothing else go by the book would be my thinking

    I tried that and found it too difficult to get a perfect reading. Hooking up a manometer was easier for me and gave guaranteed results.
    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
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    Don't u use a manometer to check pressures? Clocking the meter is not the same thing, at least not to me..Yup there related but you gotta do all the checks
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
    I've found that about 10-20% of all atmospheric boilers fail a combustion test on a new installation. It jumps to about 30-50% on older systems and service visits. Even if it were 0.00001%, that could be one life or one family in danger.

    I clock the meter every time I'm installing or servicing a gas appliance. I rarely check gas pressure unless the combustion analysis is way off or the meter times out too high or low. Gas pressure alone doesn't give you the whole picture.
    RobG
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    We in my area have low gas pressure and dirty gas...Can't tell you how many time I had to call the gas company to install a in line filter...Dirty gas will and does clog up the inlet screen and plays havoc with operation ofthe newer gas valves...We all don't live in the same areas and often location dictates our thoughts...I installed a crap load of alpines when they were introduced to the market...Lots of upgrades have been made, I'll say this I needed a particular part not long ago...Factoy only, 1 week to get it....All the units are upgraded and changed, modules and control boards are one dash number off...Some you had the ability to not use the outdoor reset,recent changes for allow it on some equipment....Not a bad thing but that must be explained to end user that constant changes can be expected...There is so much to consider when installing appliances...Me I never rolled the dice I era on the side of caution, with customers comfort and safety of most importance
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    It's funny you guys are talking about all of this, I did clock the gas meter and did a manifold check. On the meter I clocked the two foot dial and 1:06 mins for a complete turn, and the gas pressures were 7" at the inlet and 3.6 on the outlet.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    ChrisJ said:

    I'm curious,
    Has anyone ever seen where a stock atmospheric boiler connected to the proper vent, with the proper manifold pressure failed an analysis?

    Yup.

    Typically, this indicates a misaligned burner. If a burner is not properly seated the flame can impinge on the boiler sections or the refractory lining in the base. This will reduce the flame temperature, causing incomplete combustion and CO.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    ChrisJ
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177

    Dave0176 said:

    It's funny you guys are talking about all of this, I did clock the gas meter and did a manifold check. On the meter I clocked the two foot dial and 1:06 mins for a complete turn, and the gas pressures were 7" at the inlet and 3.6 on the outlet.

    Firing at about 112MBTU against the 100MBTU spec.

    1:10 min would put it precisely on spec.

    Oops I screwed up, I just looked at the stop watch and it was at 1:09.50
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    j a said:

    Don't u use a manometer to check pressures? Clocking the meter is not the same thing, at least not to me..Yup there related but you gotta do all the checks

    I would like to think the burners would burn at the rate they are engineered to if supplied with the correct manifold pressure.

    I know mine do.

    But, I do see the other points. I wanted Jstar to do an analsys on mine just because I wanted a warm and fuzzy that it was burning right. I would hope even if it was burning horribly and spewing tons of CO that the proper flu would take all of it outside anyway, but I want things to be correct.


    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
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752

    Dave0176 said:

    It's funny you guys are talking about all of this, I did clock the gas meter and did a manifold check. On the meter I clocked the two foot dial and 1:06 mins for a complete turn, and the gas pressures were 7" at the inlet and 3.6 on the outlet.

    Firing at about 112MBTU against the 100MBTU spec.

    1:10 min would put it precisely on spec.

    Depends on the specfic gravity and content of the gas in that neighborhood.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    ChrisJ said:

    I would hope even if it was burning horribly and spewing tons of CO that the proper flu would take all of it outside anyway, but I want things to be correct.

    What happens to those tons of CO if the flue gets blocked?

    This is why we check chimney bases and run combustion tests.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    SWEIChrisJ
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    And a host of other things like make up air...
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    The inspectors like it......
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    edited August 2015
    Did a little test today, it took 6 mins for the steam reach the end of the steam main which is 50 ft after the first riser got hot. The last 14 ft of main are just dry return before driping to boiler. Nothing is insulated, but the boiler has plenty in it. Im running 3 Gorton No.2s at the end of that dry return.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    Did the last radiator get hot at the same time as the first one?

    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
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
    ChrisJ said:

    Did the last radiator get hot at the same time as the first one?

    I know where this is going!
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    JStar said:

    ChrisJ said:

    Did the last radiator get hot at the same time as the first one?

    I know where this is going!
    To St Louis in a box truck? :p
    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
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    Lets put it this way the whole system heated pretty evenly. The last rad on that run probably took 5 extra mins to heat.
    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling and Plumbing 732-266-5386
    NJ Master HVACR Lic# 4630
    Specializing in Steam Heating, Serving the residents of New Jersey
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/dl-mechanical-llc

    https://m.facebook.com/DL-Mechanical-LLC-315309995326627/?ref=content_filter

    I cannot force people to spend money, I can only suggest how to spend it wisely.......
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    Dave0176 said:

    Lets put it this way the whole system heated pretty evenly. The last rad on that run probably took 5 extra mins to heat.

    Sorry I missed this.
    An extra 5 minutes!? If I get steam to a radiator 10 seconds slow I get annoyed.

    What's the total run time?
    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