Do all steam boilers need a pigtail?
I have a friend who works as a commercial apprentice in Pennsylvania. He recently installed a a new Peerless steam boiler. He sent me pictures of the job and the first thing I noticed was the boiler didn't have a pigtail attaching the pressuretrol to the boiler. I asked him why he didn't install one and he replied that the boiler didn't come with one and his lead tech said the boiler didn't require one. He said the installation instructions show the pressuretrol installed without one.
I only work on two or three steam boilers every year and they all have pigtail on them. I was taught that the pigtail is necessary to protect the pressuretrol. At first I thought he was misinformed but then I remembered that I saw a beautiful installation of a steam boiler on here recently with a nice drop header and everything looked perfect but I remember boiler had the pressuretrol, 0-3 and 0-30 PSI gauges all installed on what looked like a manifold made with brass nipples.
Can anyone explain to me why some boilers would not require a pigtail?
Comments
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If there was a manifold made out of brass fittings then the fittings were arranged with a u bend in the fittings that provided the water seal that the pigtail provides. If you do the fittings right with plugged tees you can flush it out by just removing the plugs and don't have to remove it to clean it.
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The pigtail is just one way to form a water seal that protects the pressuretrol from direct exposure to steam. The same can be done with a manifold that provides space below the gauge and pressuretrol for condensate to accumulate.
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Bburd1 -
They made straight traps , you can spot them with the globe shape inline ….
There was an error rendering this rich post.
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Look on some pressure gauges and they will state "Internal Syphon"
I have seen gauges on steam without pigtails and they seem to last ok. Same thing with P trols. But old customs die hard, and "they" say they should be used so most install them.
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I just went on peerless website and all their steam boilers call out a pigtail in the manual.
Something doesn’t make sense.
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Only costing $10, why even question the pigtail? It works and will never breakdown (cleaning aside).
Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf
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Because it's a pain. In your argument for them you even had to say "(cleaning aside)"
I installed a water seal setup on mine with pipes and the inspector didn't like it, he made me put a pigtail on, that was funny (and temporary)
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
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Oh wow. I remember you saying that he didn't like your drop header either. I think it's kinda comical.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I understand why it might be missing from some installations.
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Do all steam boilers need a pigtail?
I don't think that kosher steam boilers are allowed to have pig tails.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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Does it make sense if my 1940s era boiler does not have a pigtail ?
https://imgur.com/a/oil-boiler-tankless-coil-steam-heat-general-motors-delco-db-4s-WFbadvv
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I’m not a fan of pigtails every steamer I do I plumb a water seal
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For what it's worth, the pigtails that are maintained regularly are non problematic. In my experience. And those who don't do regular maintenance don't get a vote anyway 🤣.
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Hello CoachBoilermaker,
The pictures don't quite show the correct view(s) of the GM / Delco - Heat Pressure Control piping hookup.
Does the pipe at the Orange arrow go from the top (steam side) of the boiler to the GM / Delco - Heat Pressure Control ? If so you have the water seal, just think of it as an unfolded pigtail (you don't need the typical pigtail shape to trap water to make a water seal).
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System1 -
I remember 25 years ago, inspectors were questioning drop headers. Steamhead & Dan got Peerless, WM and also Burnham (Glenn Stanton RIP) to include them in their drawings. Mad Dog
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Peerless didn't stick, at least for their 63/64 series. There is no drawing of a drop header, and they would not state that the drop-header was even an alternate/acceptable installation option.
I was able to get them to tell me in an email that "A drop header will not void the warranty" which thankfully was enough for my inspector (who in 2020 New Jersey did in fact question my drop header and was going to fail it).
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
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The only one I recall seeing a drop header in is from Burnham. I don't think WM had it?
I did it anyway....
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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You ask if "all boilers need a pigtail". The pigtail protects the control or the gauge from direct exposure to high steam temperatures or pressure surges. The answer is that it depends on the requirement of the control.
Unless the pigtail is brass or copper, those suckers clog every couple of years, and no one in these parts ever looks at them. They don't even know what they are. We always look for alternatives when this isolation is needed.
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A pigtail protects the gauge or pressure control from steam. That's it.
A Pigtail does not protect anything from pressure surges
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Here is a better picture
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Hello CoachBoilermaker,
Assuming there is steam inside the pipe at the Yellow arrow the rest of the pipe Blue-ish color (if not prefilled) will fill up with water and provide the water seal, similar to the trap under a sink. The pigtail is just convenient pipe arrangement for boilers and they come in different bends 90, 180, 270 degrees to meet different scenarios. So you don't have a pigtail, you do have the functional equivalent of one.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
Do they clog up even if your water is always clean? If so, what clogs them up?
Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf
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Hello SuperTech,
This commercial Peerless boiler Series TCII with steam trim does not have a pigtail and does not need one if assembled as pictured since the pipes achieve the functional equivalent of a pigtail, a water seal. Since the pipes have a larger diameter and a long flat area (compared to a typical pigtail) it may take a lot longer time to plug up and with the way it is built very easy to clean out.
All the Peerless residential units I looked at for steam showed a pigtail in the IO&M manual.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System
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I see no pigtail in that peerless photo, just a water seal with brass nipples. Edit: I misread the above post. @109A_5 said the same thing, sorry for the repetition
Peerless 63 residential packaged definitely comes with a pigtail from the factory (and the excellent CycleGard)
NJ Steam Homeowner.
Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
That was pretty much the exactly what was installed on the boiler my friend sent me the picture of that made me start this thread. It could even be the same boiler.
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