Steam return and equalizer sizing question

Steve_35 · October 2004

I'm a newbie at steam so this may be a foolish question. On the face of it my instinct says no, if anything oversized returns will help keep the resistance down as the pipes crud up.

Should your equalizer be sized according to the size your return lines are or the size they should be? In other words, if your return lines are oversized does the equalizer need to be sized according to the oversized returns or sized according to the size they should be?

Dang this stuff is hard to wrap my mind around. Thanks.

Steve_35 · October 2004

Any thoughts on this from you steam pros?

Steamhead · October 2004

Generally

the pipe sizes in the manufacturer's specs are minimums. It doesn't hurt to go larger on the header and equalizer, many times this will result in a better-running system.

The return lines need to be big enough to handle the radiation load, anything larger is wasteful. See the charts in "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" for specifics.

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Steam return and equalizer sizing question

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