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Replacement Steam Boiler

jjheat
jjheat Member Posts: 35
I have an existing boiler that the 2- 4" steam supplies tie directly into the main steam piping that feeds the system with no header due to height restrictions. I have searched all the different manufacturers for the lowest water level in the boiler to be able to put a header. There is no boiler that will be low enough to maintain the dimensions in order to accommodate a header. Do I tie in directly to the distribution piping like the last boiler did? From the floor to the center line of the distribution piping is only 67".

Comments

  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Member Posts: 1,177
    edited November 2015
    67" inches isn't too bad Weil McLain and Peerless boilers are around 32" in height. You run your risers as high as possible then drop as low as you need into a drop header as long as you stay above the top of the boiler. Well I just realized that you have a large system, but even a Weil McLain 80 series is 47" at the top with a 32" water line, you can still use a drop header.
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  • jjheat
    jjheat Member Posts: 35
    Burnham 5 series water level is 30". I need to pour a pad for the boiler, as the floor is in bad shape and basement has water issues so add 4" for slab so thats 34" water line now add 24" to bottom of header plus a 6" header I am at 65" to top of header not leaving only 2" to tie in off the top of the header.
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    As Dave said you need to do a drop header. Look at the picture on my profile. That is a dropped header. Risers go up then back down into header. This is a common method used when there isn't much headroom.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    And be very cautious about lowering the water line from the existing installation. You must NOT change that water line either up or down more than an inch or two -- or be prepared to do some significant troubleshooting and repiping of lines out in the system, to maintain proper water seal elevations.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • jjheat
    jjheat Member Posts: 35
    Thanks KC. Is your drop header 24" above the NWL or it doesnt matter due to the risers being so high out of the boiler??
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    The header position on a drop header isn't critical, other than staying above the top of the boiler. Go up as high as you can with riser then back down as far as you need to make the main connections.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588

    And be very cautious about lowering the water line from the existing installation. You must NOT change that water line either up or down more than an inch or two -- or be prepared to do some significant troubleshooting and repiping of lines out in the system, to maintain proper water seal elevations.

    Jamie,
    I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Many systems, including mine would have no issue with this. I could lower my water level as much as I want and raise it a good foot before I'd be concerned.

    I have to think it depends greatly on the system and anyone replacing a steam boiler needs to evaluate the entire system to see if it's a problem.
    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
    BobC
  • vaporvac
    vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
    Well, at least the wet returns need to stay wet.
    Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
    Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    vaporvac said:

    Well, at least the wet returns need to stay wet.

    Or dry and draining well, no in between.
    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
  • jjheat
    jjheat Member Posts: 35
    Only dropping the water line by 3-4". Wet returns. 1 pipe steam.
    KC thanks. The boiler risers should come up as high as I can but stay below my distribution piping correct? That will give me about 2' pieces out of the boiler and about 38" above NWL.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588
    The risers can go as high as you want, even above the steam mains.

    Then drop down into a header.
    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
    KC_Jones
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    ChrisJ said:

    And be very cautious about lowering the water line from the existing installation. You must NOT change that water line either up or down more than an inch or two -- or be prepared to do some significant troubleshooting and repiping of lines out in the system, to maintain proper water seal elevations.

    Jamie,
    I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Many systems, including mine would have no issue with this. I could lower my water level as much as I want and raise it a good foot before I'd be concerned.

    I have to think it depends greatly on the system and anyone replacing a steam boiler needs to evaluate the entire system to see if it's a problem.
    As a more general statement, you are right . There are many systems where it doesn't matter at all. There are other systems, though, where the wet returns may rise quite a bit as they go out in the system, and where lowering the water line may just allow the ends to dry. If there is supposed to be a water seal out there, and one dries it out... trouble.

    I think I use that statement as a good general rule -- to which there are always exceptions but which can be evaluated by someone who really knows what they are doing!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,588

    ChrisJ said:

    And be very cautious about lowering the water line from the existing installation. You must NOT change that water line either up or down more than an inch or two -- or be prepared to do some significant troubleshooting and repiping of lines out in the system, to maintain proper water seal elevations.

    Jamie,
    I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Many systems, including mine would have no issue with this. I could lower my water level as much as I want and raise it a good foot before I'd be concerned.

    I have to think it depends greatly on the system and anyone replacing a steam boiler needs to evaluate the entire system to see if it's a problem.
    As a more general statement, you are right . There are many systems where it doesn't matter at all. There are other systems, though, where the wet returns may rise quite a bit as they go out in the system, and where lowering the water line may just allow the ends to dry. If there is supposed to be a water seal out there, and one dries it out... trouble.

    I think I use that statement as a good general rule -- to which there are always exceptions but which can be evaluated by someone who really knows what they are doing!
    I've got no problem with that.

    You saying it, and me commenting on it likely will make the OP consider it as well as many others down the road.

    That's a good thing.
    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
    KC_Jones