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Steam Near Boiler Piping

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Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    I always have a hot dust smell at the first or second run at the beginning of the heating season. Is the hot oil haze coming out of the vents ? Maybe take a step back and do a bunch of skimming.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • SMRTK
    SMRTK Member Posts: 37

    make up is there. Image below. Yes, more skimming for sure. It’s bouncing all over the place. I want to get it up and check for leaks (none yet) then I’ll let it cool a bit and skim some more tonight and tomorrow. And then maybe again here and there through the week. My assumption is the oils in the pipes from cutting will be coming back to the boiler eventually.

    image.png
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    " Not seeing a makeup water valve, usually it is kind of close to the boiler. "

    Still not seeing the Valve.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,884

    I looked up the Utica skimming instructions, and they don't mention adding some washing soda or TSP substitute like some manufacturers do. I found it cuts the oil and makes skimming far easier and shorter process.

    Run some of that detergent in the boiler for a short while and then skim. Nice install! I am also a little curious where the makeup water valve is 😅

    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

  • SMRTK
    SMRTK Member Posts: 37

    the valve to make up water is located above and behind the boiler on the wall. Where it was when I bought the house. I intend to relocate it to the copper pipe on the return leg when I drain it down next. Is that what you were looking for or am I misunderstanding. Picture is grainy but it is there.

    image.png
    ethicalpaul
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,609

    if you skim a little bit more often you can keep from throwing as much of the oil out in to the system and there will be less to work its way back.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048

    If the original valve is in good condition I probably would have just added a second valve near the boiler when installing the new pipe.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,609
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870098#Comment_1870098

    i would keep both valves either way, give you more options when the one near the boiler fails.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,842
    edited October 30

    The smell and haze is normal burning the coating off the pipe. No pressure is a good thing as long as everything is heating.

    Haze and smell from piping and boiler are completely normal. May need 4-6 hours of running to clear up

    mattmia2
  • SMRTK
    SMRTK Member Posts: 37

    With respect to the valve I am going to keep the original and add a second near the boiler. Keeping it will allow me to add the second without draining down the system. The second valve will make service at the boiler that much easier. Having to monitor while operating the valve where it is located is a pain.

    I am going to keep on skimming. I did not add TSP or another detergent as I wanted to stick with the manufacturers instructions. If this does not get noticeably better over the next week or so I will deviate.

    The haze went away finally after a few hours.

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,971
    edited October 30
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1869167#Comment_1869167

    I'm going with sloppy work using a hatchet / axe etc.

    I highly doubt steam or anything else did that, unless there's actual rott / soft wood in the area. Even then I still think someone hacked it out to clear the steam piping before it was finished. Fire woud've left black / charcoaled wood.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 3,048
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870118#Comment_1870118

    Not sure how a hatchet / axe etc. would char the wood, I thought the OP said it was charred, looks charred to me in some of the pictures directly above the boiler.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,971
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870122#Comment_1870122

    I missed that.

    But honestly, the pictures don't show it good enough IMO. It's hard to tell.

    But yeah, you're right, steam didn't do that nor did the piping unless something went horribly wrong.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,842

    There was a really bad fire in my town yeas ago which was a total loss. The local FD blamed the steam system saying the steam pipes rested on wood and charred the wood. They claim that when the wood gets charred its ignition point is reduced.

    I was skeptical back then and still am. I think if that was true there would be few steam heated houses standing

    ethicalpaul
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,971
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870151#Comment_1870151

    I generally find it's harder to light charcoal than wood.

    From my own experience I'd argue it's harder. But the only experience I have from steam piping touching wood is it often tends to produce expansion noises. I've certainly never seen any darkening or anything, and all of my steam radiators are sitting on wood floors. Those cast iron feet aren't exactly cool.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,884
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870151#Comment_1870151

    The ignition point is reduced to 212 degrees LOLOL

    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

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,609
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1870151#Comment_1870151

    that can happen at temps close to the ignition point. it doesn't happen at low pressure steam temps.

    unless they were running like 500 psi steam it wasn't the steam piping. It could dry wood out and make some other ignition source more likely to ignite it.

    ethicalpaul

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