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drop header incline

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MikeMens
MikeMens Member Posts: 30
in Strictly Steam
I am installing a new steam boiler with 3" risers into a 4" drop header
Does the drop header need to have a slight decline from the end where the risers from block enter the header to the end where risers to supply lines leave the header (return end)? If so how much of a decline? header should be about 5' long Thanks

Comments

  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,949
    edited September 2016
    I give it a very slight pitch so that water won't pool on the opposite end of the equalizer. Something around 1/2"-1" per 20 feet or so. The thing is you'll still have some water sitting in some of the fittings so...
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,782
    It needs to pitch towards the equalizer - doesn't have to be that much, but it needs to pitch that way. Hopefully that's also the direction the steam is going!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,052
    What size boiler?
    The more oversized the piping is, the less the pitch matters.

    For example, your piping on a 150,000 btu/h input boiler will likely do fantastic with zero pitch. If it's a much larger boiler where you're chances of having a lot more water passing through I'd want pitch.

    Also, what size equalizer? The equalizer is what drains the header so the equalizer and how it's piped into the header is equally important.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    SteamedInNJ
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    The simple answer is "Yes" a slight pitch towards the equalizer is always a good thing.
  • MikeMens
    MikeMens Member Posts: 30
    This is 310000 btu boiler with 3" risers to 4 " drop header drop header ends in 4" 90 to 4" to 2" reducer to 2" to 1.5" reducer to 1.5" return

    your replies are just about what I guessed you would say

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