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New steamer in a church

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MaxMercy
MaxMercy Member Posts: 622
edited July 9 in Strictly Steam

I was doing some non-heating related work at a church and the caretaker showed me their new install, about 90 percent completed. To be commissioned at the end of the month. I don't know enough about steam to even be dangerous, but this looks like a pretty good install to me, although I wonder if the header should be higher? If this pic loads, I'll add more. Thoughts?

church3.jpg church2.jpg

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,770

    I don't like the welded pipe, but as long as the header is 24" above the waterline and the pipes are sized correctly, it should meet W-M's specs.

    Is this gravity or pumped return?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    mattmia2Mad Dog_2
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,290

    Here is what I see. The horizontal part of the riser from the boiler to the header may be too short since the header is on the wrong side of the boiler, see illustration. The offset is past the side of the boiler, just the wrong side of the boiler. Not sure if that boiler model is 788 through 1188.

    This may not be a big deal, I do not know, the flange coupling may allow some extra flex. However with the Notice below, IMO the piping is not as shown. It is almost like a mirror image with shorter pipes so less flex.

    https://www.weil-mclain.com/wp-content/uploads/Weil-McLain_88-Series2_BoilerManual_550100068_1018.pdf

    image.png image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,290

    I like this method better than the pigtails, lots of clean-outs and bigger pipe throughout.

    image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,712

    Offsets are short. Some don't think welded pipe can move but if the offsets are long enough it will.

    The long horizontal with the equalizer isn't ideal you should drop below the water line before any horizontal but its probably not an issue.

    Guessing it is an 1188 5" risers 8" header and 4" equalizer

    If you blow the picture up and look at the welds they are all snotted up.

    Almost looks like they hired me to weld it.

    Don't know where this is located but in MA. they wouldn't accept the firomatic switch mounted on the boiler, but come to think of it they are not required on gas here anyhow.

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,753
    edited July 10

    it isn't terrible but it is off enough that i'd ask if the boiler matches the connected radiation.

    both safeties on the same tapping isn't great. if you're welding a header, easy enough to weld a bung on it for the manual reset pressuretrol.

    not sure what is with that capped stubbed piece of pipe.

    that riser that disappears through the ceiling might need a drip.

    the mains should connect separately to the header after the boiler tappings, not be teed together and connected to the header at one point. if there is a lot of condensate coming down that riser it is likely to bang and have other issues in that header

  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,940
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1899812#Comment_1899812

    I don't like the welded pipe because the welds look like they were done by a blind person. I mean if one is going to weld, one should know what they are doing. Is this typical of the "quality" of welds in this industry?

    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,712

    @KC_Jones said"

     Is this typical of the "quality" of welds in this industry?

    No, no one who welds like that can call themselves a welder. It's pretty bad.

    I am not saying pipe welding is easy it is very difficult. You have to constantly be moving and gravity changes how it welds as you move around the pipe. In addition you start on a "cold pipe" as it heats up while welding it welds different when hot then cold.

    A welder has to have good eyes, good coordination and be able to constantly adjust as the temperature changes and you fight gravity while moving around the pipe.

    I worked in the fitters union my last 18 years and there are a lot of good welders. Some are natural welders, some fight it but can be taught.

    I tried it and couldn't do it right so i gave that part up.

    Mad Dog_2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,753

    This concerns me. if it is a riser that goes up 30 ft the condensate dropping down it is going to cause chaos in the header. if it just goes to a parallel flow main above somewhere it isn't right but probably will work ok. Depending on what is above that floor will determine what happens with this.

    image.png
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,712

    One the riser is hot the amount of condensate is negligible. The riser intake being almost over the equalizer should be fine

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