Equalizer
Would this be an issue to pipe this boiler like this with the equalizer on a 45.
Comments
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No — that will work fine. I'm not wild about a 90 degree bend in the header, but if there is enough pitch it should be OK.
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0 -
Why didn't you just pipe the equalizer on the other side of the boiler? or use the other riser coming out of the boiler to make the piping a little cleaner?
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why the 90 degree dislike? It gives any water droplets another wall to slam into, no?
I like the equalizer too fwiw
NJ Steam Homeowner.
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See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
Nothing wrong with the 45 in the equalizer as long as the pipe size meets the min. mfg. requirement. I'm more concerned about the 1st main takeoff from the header. It shouldn't be horizontal. Either 45 from or fully vertical.
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I don't mind the 90. it makes for a great chin up bar!
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@Captain Who i think that's a coupling. you can see the horizontal line in the fitting. I was thinking the same until i saw the line.
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Would they void the warranty if the boiler is piped like this?
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I don’t see anything that would void the warranty. What are you referring to?
NJ Steam Homeowner.
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See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
Can you show a pic off the right-hand riser connects too? I agree the fitting on the header looks like a coupling instead of a tee.
Other than that riser everything looks ok
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Is that a Tee at the Yellow arrow ? If not where does the pipe at the Orange arrow go ?
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
I dislike the bushings. They make reducing 90s that most manufacturers prefer. Also reducing from 3 to 1 1/2 at the end of the header? Rule of thumb, although probably not actually necessary, is only reducing 1 pipe size from header to equalizer.
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I am also not a fan of the bushings. But not such a big deal. That rule about reducing one pipe size is really counterintuitive and I don't agree. And neither do any of the boiler manufacturers. The larger the header, the less condensate you'll have, because velocity is reduced. So if anything, the bigger headers, should get smaller equalizers. But in reality, the only driving factor is really the boiler size.
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Bushings seem to get a lot of dislike in general.
Like all of those who say you cannot use them on gas piping. The only note I've seen is cast iron bushings shall not be used. The rest are fine along with street fittings, except some areas don't allow them in concealed locations.
I am curious what that other pipe coming down in the backround is though. Looks like it's about 1 1/2" or 2" with a union?
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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The issue with bushings, is that in theory , and in practice, they can create a water dam. Reducing elbow, would give you better flow. But not a big deal, in strait vertical application.
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Again, I think you need to check the manual to make sure that equalizer is not smaller than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer.
What is the Boiler model and size?
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The larger the header, the less condensate you'll have, because velocity is reduced.
I don’t follow this at all but regardless the size minimum on the EQ has nothing to do with condensate—we’re talking teaspoons.
It’s about carryover
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 -
Some call for 1 1/4, others 1 1/2.
That looks like an EG-30. So a single 2" riser, 2" header and 1 1/2" equalizer.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I have the same question?
Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager, teacher, dog walker and designated driver
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We have all been taught, the higher the velocity, the more water gets carried out from the boiler. The lower the velocity, the less water gets carried out of the boiler. If you follow through with that equation, that means that the larger the boiler steam piping and header coming out of the boiler, the less water there will actually be in the header. Which means, the drain function of the equalizer, can be reduced.
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Here is the illustration from the manual on the left and I have made your piping arrangement on the right. I do not believe that your main rizer on the right side should be connected the way you did it. Red piping is not a good design.
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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SMH. We need a sticky to tell people to give a few different view angles when submitting a photo. I didn't realize that was a Tee. A bullheaded Tee is a disaster in steam piping, when the steam flows in the other direction that it does here because it generates wet steam. In this case it is almost like another equalizer would be needed because you don't want the end of the header to be an elbow up into the main.
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This might be a better design
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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I'd use the other tapping and plug the one that's currently being used.
I'd also extend that left main over quite a bit so my equalizer is straight.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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@ChrisJ But that could get him in trouble with Weil McLain regarding warranty because the manual specifies that "Steam supply must be on the same end as controls"
@jmerrill Make sure your equalizer is 1-1/2" min. because that is what is specified in the manual.
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I forgot about that rule.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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@jmerrill could always go overboard like Paul did and use a double riser from the boiler into a drop header the there sill be plenty of room to put the two main risers into the header. Wouldn't that look nice?
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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i'm not sure if that is a tee or if the tee is to the right of it and the tee happens to have a casting ridge in the bottom of it.
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It is a Tee
here is what I see behind that 3" header coming off of the riser.
What I see coming off of the 3" riser is from left to right: Yellow arrow is pointing to a 3" TEE < 3" pipe nipple < 3" coupling < 3" pipe nipple < 3" 90° elbow ^ 3" riser out of the boiler. The Tee in the header puts the steam in two directions ← → to get to to the different main risers. Not a good design!
Here is the same photo with the hidden pipe covered by the header:
Without
With
Without
With
Without
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
0
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