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Quick question re. the 24" rule

Hap_Hazzard
Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
TLAOSH and other sources say to allow at least 24" from the water line to the bottom of the header, but what about drop headers? Would the bottom of the swing-arm be a good point of reference in that case?
Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,177
    Basically. seems to me anyway. I seem to recall from some discussions years ago that the idea was to have enough height to allow entrained water droplets to slow down, get todther, and fall back, and I also seem to recall that it was a rule of thumb kind of thing.

    Cedic's drop header is all of about 8 inches above the boiler water line -- as low as Charles could get it without hitting the block! -- and it works fine.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Hap_Hazzard
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    TLAOSH and other sources say to allow at least 24" from the water line to the bottom of the header, but what about drop headers? Would the bottom of the swing-arm be a good point of reference in that case?

    Yes. The critical dimension is how high the riser from the boiler goes. That's why Cedric's header works so well.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Hap_Hazzard
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    You just can't put the drop header below the boiler water line
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    You kid, but I wouldn't bet that no one has ever tried it.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    @Hap_Hazzard if the equalizer goes back into the boiler and you put a drop header below or at the water line the water line in the header will match the height in the water gauge glass on the boiler.
  • dopey27177
    dopey27177 Member Posts: 887
    I have seen drop headers go below the water line where the boiler was installed in a low crawl space or low ceiling basement.

    At the low end of the drop header a condensate drain line was installed with a steam trap. the discharge of the steam trap was piped to a condensate pump.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    @dopey27177

    yes with a steam trap piped to a condensate or boiler feed pump the header can be anywhere. But with an equalizer going back to the boiler you have to have the bottom of the header above the boiler water line +28"/lb of steam pressure.+ a few " as as margin for error.