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I'm still waiting to walk in the door and see one properly piped. I Have seen worse.

Double D
Double D Member Posts: 442
The original call was for a leak in a pipe over the boiler. It ended up being a pinhole in a dry return.
At first glance I mentioned to the homeowner that the boiler is not properly piped. Although I wasn't thinking she was doubting what I had to say, she let me know there was another serviceman there who never mentioned anything about the piping. Rather than see her spend more time and money for other opinions, I asked if it would be ok to post pictures of the install here to see what people that know what they're looking at have to say. I told her I would send her the link if I get any response.




SuperTech

Comments

  • Horrendous...
    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    I'm not sure what I like best -- the copper long horizontal in front of the sight glass which I suppose is meant to be a Hartford loop sort of thingy, or the equalizer (I think) fed off the leg of a T set vertically in the undersized copper "riser", or the ingenious use of the two separate riser connections to feed two separate mains, or...

    Look. If even I can see that much that's unusual...

    I might add, though, that if it provides reasonably quiet, even heat, it is an astonishing testimony to the ability of steam to work under adverse conditions!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374
    Not much worth salvaging.
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,616
    I thnk I speak for everyone when I say Facepalm!
    Ironman
  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148
    ****. That is so, so wrong.
  • Dan_NJ
    Dan_NJ Member Posts: 247
    Were they looking at an M.C. Escher painting instead of the Dunkirk installation manual? How does that even work.
    Solid_Fuel_ManTurbo Dave
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    OMG what a mess! Where to start????
    Marko34
  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374
    Fred said:

    OMG what a mess! Where to start????

    All over.
    FredNew England SteamWorksCanucker
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    edited February 2018
    It may work somewhat, but at what cost in excess fuel consumption?
    The pinhole leak probably provided the main venting!
    I wonder why she didn’t call the other serviceman for the leak repair, and was he the installer?
    He has made some good money on this, and wants to keep a low profile.—NBC
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    Sick
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    Send them the link, I usually try and say what's right, but I can't find anything on that one.

    And a "professional" charged money for that.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    Against my better judgment I had to come back for another peek. I was speechless the first time but I have calmed down now.

    That's about the worst one I have ever seen, is that like 1 1/2" copper into like 3"??
    Marko34
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Looks like Beavis and Butt-head piped it. Tear out all that copper and start over.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    IronmanTurbo DaveMarko34
  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148
    @Steamhead I was thinking Larry, Curly, and Moe....
  • L Thiesen
    L Thiesen Member Posts: 54
    Well one good thing is that it would be easy to cut out the copper and start over.
  • Double D
    Double D Member Posts: 442
    1-1/4" into 2-1/2" I think it might be time to send the link. The mains are 2" but the risers out of the original boiler were 2-1/2". The system heats but not evenly and yes it hammers.
  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374
    Quality install on dwh with flex lines. I bet you can shake that line 6” in each direction.
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 1,954
    Well. At least they used both risers.
  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374

    Well. At least they used both risers.

    Had to after cutting cross sectional area by 75%.
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 1,954
    Tape on the flue pipe
  • AMservices
    AMservices Member Posts: 610

    Think I found the guys responsible for that horror show.
    Double D
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    1Matthias said:

    @Steamhead I was thinking Larry, Curly, and Moe....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXHVVXAcNYM
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Double DIronman1Matthias
  • 1Matthias
    1Matthias Member Posts: 148
    @Steamhead Exactly.
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 851
    Ok, I'm going to say something positive...I like the flanges. Although the original might be flange unions I suppose.
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,139
    Bwahahaha! I rarely see steam boilers and I'm certainly not an expert, but any idiot can see that is not a proper, professional install.

    It looks like a DIY job by someone who has never seen a steam boiler before. I'm surprised it functions.
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,367
    I think that even a novice could see that what's done in no way resembles the piping diagram in the manual.


    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    Mark Eatherton
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    edited February 2018
    SuperTech said:


    It looks like a DIY job by someone who has never seen a steam boiler before. I'm surprised it functions.

    You haven't been around here very long have you? Other than people on this board, this is typical of what we see from contractors on steam. Well let's go with the low end of typical.

    Look at my profile picture, that's a DIY job by me..... ;)
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • PhilDavid
    PhilDavid Member Posts: 68
    Just aweful... almost criminal. Installs like that rip off the customer and give steam a bad rap. I see these types of installs more often than I should. Couldn’t be piped any worse.
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 645
    The way I read the OP's post, I think the request is for a check list of each of the many things that are wrong with this installation.

    I'm not the guy to do that, but I am sure others could supply this check list. Anybody want to chime in?
    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • Double D
    Double D Member Posts: 442
    Here's a video that should come with every boiler.
    https://youtu.be/6BCCXW8lA1g
    Leonard
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    edited February 2018
    THATS AWESOME!! ok..now someone tell me what the black box is to the right of the tag..I'd try and identify it based on piping but my eye's crossed trying to follow it... :neutral:
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    If you look at the very first picture it looks to be the auto water feeder valve??
    Double D
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    lchmb said:

    THATS AWESOME!! ok..now someone tell me what the black box is to the right of the tag..I'd try and identify it based on piping but my eye's crossed trying to follow it... :neutral:

    I assume you are talking about the original pictures? If so, that's a probe type Low Water Cut-off.
  • brandonf
    brandonf Member Posts: 205
    Artistic??
    Homeowner, Entrepreneur, Mechanic, Electrician,

    "The toes you step on today are connected to the butt you'll have to kiss tomorrow". ---Vincent "Buddy" Cianci
    SuperTechDouble D