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Baseboard steam piping.

I am installing baseboard elements on a two pipe steam system for a customer. I have little experience and no one in Alberta that I can find does as well. Do I need grade on my elements and do I need a thermostatic rad valve and steam trap on each run of elements.

Comments

  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 177
    You do need a trap at the outlet, and it will run more quietly with pitch on the element. Limit your element length to no more than the supply pipe is sized to deliver; any more will be filled with condensate and not give the heat you might expect. Remember, the same size pipe has different capacities, whether it is vertical or horizontal.
    Noel
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,160
    Yes -- as @Noel says, you do need grade on the elements -- I would suggest no less than 1 inch in 10 feet. Slope them towards the outlet end. You will need a thermostatic radiator trap at the outlet of each one. You should have an inlet valve for each one as well -- it will make servicing easier -- but it isn't absolutely necessary.

    Also, for the sake of the future, make sure that there is a conveniently accessible union on both the inlet (usually between the valve and the inlet spud -- if it is a true steam valve, the union will be part of -- and matched to -- the spud and the valve) and the outlet (also usually between the outlet spud and the trap).
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    @spencerplumbheat

    Do you have 1 element/enclosure? or are the elements stacked in the enclosure? Might make a difference
  • Keith M
    Keith M Member Posts: 78
    In the Slant/Fin "finned tube catalog" we added a page "Element Application of Steam" several years ago. (it is old information that Slant/Fin published years ago) It is a good reference that lists guidelines to follow. This Finned Tube Catalog is available on the Slant/Fin web site.
    Keith Muhlmeister
    Slant/Fin Corporation
    Dave in QCAethicalpaulbrandonf
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    Thanks @Keith M good to know
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    I think it's so cool when manufacturers participate in this forum, I wish more of them did, even though I understand there are sometimes reasons for their reluctance.
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    brandonfErin Holohan Haskell
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Some of them are "reluctant" because they've made some bonehead moves and we called them out on it. I could tell a few stories about that..... Slant/Fin, however, has done quite well over the years.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
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    ethicalpaulBobC