Insulating Steam Iron Pipes


My coop is looking to insulate our Cast Iron Steam Piping with something other then then fiberglass. Is there foam insulation that would fit a 2 and 1/2in cast iron Pipe. Will the same foam withstand the steam temperatures?

Categories: Insulation
By Gosha | 03/05/2010 3:43 PM | Comment

Oil vs Gas as 2nd stage


We currently have a single pipe steam system that heats 3 adjacent 16 apt buildings. (for a total of about 48apts)
The source of the heat and hot water is a single large oil burning boiler.

In an effort to make the system more efficient, we are considering adding 3 individual water heaters
to allow us not to run the Steam boiler in the summer.
We would however like to utilize the heat from the boiler when it is available in the winter.
This can be accomplished by connecting the water heaters after the boiler.

Our plumber has advised us that we use modern Gas Water heaters as they will be easier to maintain.
This however will require us to redo the piping as the Gas boilers are supposedly not allowed to be
in the same room as the big Boiler.

Luckily the individual buildings have old flues from coal days, which can probably be relined and used again.

Is there any benefit to getting gas heaters other then them being more common?

Categories: Plumbing
By Gosha | 03/09/2009 4:41 PM | Comment

Using the main boiler for Heating Water or can we add a second stage


Our Coop uses the main boiler to heat water year round.

We have a large Steam boiler. With a relatively modern burner. I believe the this boiler type is called and indirect boiler. Meaning the (chemically treated) boiler water is never mixed in with the water supply.

My question is: is it really necessary to heat up the huge amount of water in the boiler to get hot running water? Also it usually takes a while before that hot water gets to where it’s needed, would having a small boiler ready to go improve the situation?
Is it possible to connect a small boiler in sequence to the big one? Meaning if the large boiler already made heat and heated water, then use that water for the hotwater supply, and If the water coming from the big boiler is not hot then heat it in the small boiler.
Or if for example it’s is the peak of hot water usage and the small boiler is not keeping up with the hot water demand could it signal the Big boiler controller to make hot water and then mix that with the water from the smaller boiler.

Categories: Heating
By Gosha | 12/14/2008 7:48 PM | Comment

Medium size coop heating system advice


I think I should address this directly to Master Plvmber, but I would love to hear anything any other steam heat experts might advise.

I am on a board of a medium sized coop which consists of 3 attached buildings 16 apartments each. The buildings are from 1914 or older.
The 3 buildings are heated by a single Steam boiler through a one pipe steam system.
The boiler is about the size of a steam locomotive. The burner has been updated to a modern burner and as of 2 weeks ago controlled by a brand new MPC Platinum HeatTimer controller. I am a fairly technical person myself and heave taken it upon myself to figure out what is needed to make this system into an efficient one.
1. My first priority was to have the old mechanical HeatTimer controller replaced with an electronic one , so that we could really see and control what is going on. When the controller got replaced, the person (who is a knowledgeable plumber) installed the system temperature sensor on the condensate return pipe in a room near the boiler. I believe that to be incorrect, and that it is supposed to be installed at one of the return pipes on one of the far ends of the system. That way “Heat established” state can be accurately determined.

2. The building directly above the boiler always ends up being overheated. We have replaced all TSV valves in the building at the start of the last heating season but that apparently isn’t enough as the boiler keeps enough fresh steam in the risers to overheat the building. At the same time the far ends of the system are usually getting just enough heat to be comfortable. As far as I understand that is because the heat balance is set high to make the burn cycle long enough for the steam to get to the far ends of the system. My question is , can a one pipe system like this be split up into zones? I know HeatTimer sells Motorized Thermostatic valves. Could those be used to shut off the steam from the building that is above the boiler to pass the steam pressure over to the other buildings ?

Categories: Heating
By Gosha | 12/09/2008 1:38 AM | Comment