As the old saying goes ”cant fix stupid”

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Dave0176
Dave0176 Posts: 1,186
in Strictly Steam
Got a call today for a heating issue, the HO had previously posted on here and you guys recommended me, thanks.
Anyway what I found was laughable as usual, an emensly sized boiler compared to the connected radiation. They installed a Williamson GSA 250,000 or a rebadged Weil-McLain EG65. After measuring radiation I came up 432 sq ft steam compared to the boilers rated net output of 654 sans the pickup factor. The funny thing is they removed a brand new Williamson GSA 150,000 (Weil-McLain EG45) because the HO when buying the house had done a complete rip out of everything and added radiators and they told him it would be way too small. Also they tried to mimic the B&J big mouths vents by using Watts steam traps which I told him to replace.

At this point I’m going to add a two stage gas valve and if that tames things a bit we will repipe it properly.




DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling 732-882-2267 Specializing in Steam Heating

brandonf

Comments

  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Posts: 5,963
    For my clarification, the person who is hiring you is the one who picked this oversized boiler?
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Posts: 21,277
    Pipe it straight across with no swing joints. I don't get it. Fighting to get that connected and all you save are 2 elbows and then puts the system supplies between the boiler supplies. Don't know about the header size
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Posts: 1,186
    edited November 2018
    KC_Jones said:

    For my clarification, the person who is hiring you is the one who picked this oversized boiler?

    No,,, his plumbers recommend and installed this. He gets heat, however it comes along with the anvil chorus.

    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling 732-882-2267 Specializing in Steam Heating

  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Posts: 1,186
    EBEBRATT-Ed said:

    Pipe it straight across with no swing joints. I don't get it. Fighting to get that connected and all you save are 2 elbows and then puts the system supplies between the boiler supplies. Don't know about the header size

    The header is sized right 3”, but that’s where it ends, however the boiler is 230 EDR oversized lol.

    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling 732-882-2267 Specializing in Steam Heating

  • BobC
    BobC Posts: 5,578
    The anvil chorus is in part caused by the calliope the contractor installed. I don't suppose the installer did anything silly like skimming the new boiler?

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Posts: 1,066
    Dave,
    Like you and most on this site, we see this type of near boiler piping almost daily. We're not perfect either, but you'd think they would at least look at the install manual one time! I'd be willing to bet that we see boilers piped this way more often than the correct way (steam and condensate flowing in the same direction).

    With regard to sizing, also a common problem, I guess others are too busy to spend fifteen minutes measuring standing radiation. The good news is we only see oversizing about a quarter of the time.
  • Steve Minnich
    Steve Minnich Posts: 2,964
    I think you can fix stupid.

    Open your eyes. Open your ears. Close your mouth. Open a book.

    Indifference and laziness would be much harder to change.
    Steve Minnich
  • Dan_NJ
    Dan_NJ Posts: 268
    I agree, stupid has a fighting chance under the right conditions. Ignorance, indifference and laziness - not so much.
  • Dave0176
    Dave0176 Posts: 1,186
    Stephen Minnich said:

    I think you can fix stupid.

    Open your eyes. Open your ears. Close your mouth. Open a book.

    Indifference and laziness would be much harder to change.

    Dan_NJ said:

    I agree, stupid has a fighting chance under the right conditions. Ignorance, indifference and laziness - not so much.

    Keyword Laziness,,,,,,,, Find and see it all the time.......

    DL Mechanical LLC Heating, Cooling 732-882-2267 Specializing in Steam Heating

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