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February 5, 2009
Sweet New Steam Boiler
Sweet New Steam Boiler
This is what a replacement steam boiler looks like from the front.
Notice several things:
• The piping is black steel that is screwed together. Steam-carrying pipes should not be made of copper.
• Two vertical pipes come from the boiler and then drop down into a larger horizontal pipe as recommended by manufacturer.
• The vertical pipes that go up into the system are not between the two vertical boiler pipes. They are immediately to the left. This is important, believe it or not.
• The main electrical shut off switch is clearly labeled in red and accessible.
• The boiler is located close to the chimney.
• The return line behind the boiler has been replaced with copper.
• The automatic water feeder feeds the return pipe, not the boiler.
• The fresh water feed line is protected from boiler water contamination by a backflow preventor and check valve.
• A skim valve and plug are installed on the right side of the boiler to allow for removal of the inevitable collection of oils on top of the boiler water. The price of every steam boiler replacement must include a return trip after two weeks of use for skimming, inspection and tightening.
• On the lower left side, a secondary low water cut off device set in the piping protects the boiler from dry-fire and total loss of new boiler.
• The boiler piping includes union fittings for easy disassembly making future replacements and service simple jobs.
The left side is a whole other post and another picture.
Comments
hi i was hoping you may have a comment or two on an earlier post i started re: takagi tankless water heaters on feb 4. we have had nothing but trouble and are at whits end!!!
Posted by: bailey at February 5, 2009 8:52 PM
Master Plumber, may I ask what the make, model and efficiency rating is of this boiler?
(Not high efficiency because this is a steam system, correct)?
And in this set up, any estimate of the depth measurement between the front of the boiler and the wall?
Posted by: Roebling at February 5, 2009 9:10 PM
that is so refreshing to see a boiler done right...that is a sexy beast..with a full port flush valve in the return no doubt..keep up the good work
Posted by: eman1234 at February 5, 2009 9:26 PM
the only difference that i have in my work is on larger boilers (1,000,000 btus) i sometimes use flange unions, since they are easier to maneuver into place..
Posted by: eman1234 at February 5, 2009 9:34 PM
mmmm. Boiler porn. Could you tell us what that setup would cost, including installation? Thanks.
Posted by: Bolder at February 5, 2009 9:44 PM
just curious, is it wise to have the emergency shut-off so close to the boiler, or is there another somewhere else?
Posted by: denton at February 6, 2009 6:37 AM
You need one at the boiler, Denton, and another remote switch at the boiler room entrance or top of the cellar stairs.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at February 6, 2009 6:51 AM
What kind of insulation is on the pipes at the top of the picture?
Posted by: 1910 at February 6, 2009 10:16 AM
Is it not done to insulate the pipes right up to the boiler? I've done this and would like to know if that's an error.
Posted by: cmu at February 6, 2009 10:16 AM
All the pipes should be insulated. I wanted to show the piping here first.
The insulation shown above the boiler is some old foil-wrap stuff the homeowner used.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at February 6, 2009 10:27 AM
Fantastic post!
Posted by: Smokychimp at February 6, 2009 11:48 AM
Thanks. Great post
Posted by: cmu at February 6, 2009 12:27 PM
MasterP,
I log on every now and then, I don't say much, I keep to myself and observe. One thing I have observed is your general helpfulness. The people on this forum have no idea how many thousands of dollars worth of advice you have dispensed free of charge.
This post is quite simply one of your greatest services to date. Well done! The piping is beautiful. Drop Headers! You are a real professional. You do our industry a great honor....
-SF
Posted by: SteamMan at February 6, 2009 3:31 PM
Wow. Thanks, SteamMan.
It's nice of you to take the time to say so.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at February 6, 2009 4:00 PM
Amen to SteamMan for the clean neat job,And to MasterPlumber for the compliments and professionalism....Hard to find these days..
Keep up the great work
Kevin A Klepper
http://A1HomeImprover.com
Posted by: HomeImprover at February 6, 2009 5:35 PM
My Hats off to you Steamman and to MasterPlumber for complimenting..Good job.....
Kevin A Klepper
http://WWW.A1HomeImprover.com
Posted by: HomeImprover at February 6, 2009 5:37 PM
Awesome post. Thank you.
Posted by: mopar at February 6, 2009 6:02 PM
again...positively gorgeous..
Posted by: eman1234 at February 6, 2009 6:16 PM
btw, steamman, it looks like your project list is pretty damn impressive.. you obviously know your stuff...congrats
Posted by: eman1234 at February 6, 2009 6:26 PM
I don't mean to knit-pick, but you should have poured a concrete foundation instead of using those cinderblocks. I'd be pissed off if that were one of my boiler's foundations.
Otherwise, everything looks fine to me, not that I'm a plumber of course, just an old school landlord. . .
Posted by: IronBalls at February 6, 2009 7:32 PM
The boiler is made to sit on its own legs on the floor. The blocks are a bonus.
There's really no need to get pissed off.
But I understand.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at February 7, 2009 8:24 AM
Guys, waht is the reason for vertical pipes that come from the boiler to immediately drop down? Is it to return any possible condensate ??
Thanks for some great info!!
Posted by: SenatorStreet at February 7, 2009 8:45 AM
Yes it is.
As the steam is forced out of the boiler, it carries some water with it.
That water creates noise and other problems in the system. Piping the boiler this way allows the water to drop out of the steam and return back to be heated again.
What you're left with is a better quality of "dry" steam.
As boilers got smaller, good methods of piping have become crucial to the system.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at February 7, 2009 8:57 AM
btw..this is a great example of why you dont believe the guys that post "replacing a boiler costs 1500 and takes a day"..you do not get this quality work (which will last 40 years) at that price
Posted by: eman1234 at February 10, 2009 11:32 PM
Thanks for that MasterP and eman1234.....
Posted by: SteamMan at February 12, 2009 11:11 AM
I am wondering about your statement "Steam-carrying pipes should not be made of copper." We had our ancient oil-fired steam boiler replaced last summer with gas-fired and some new piping connecting to the original cast-iron is in fact copper (I took some photos before the pipes were covered with insulation). Big problem or not? Thanks!
Posted by: RIjim at March 9, 2009 2:09 PM
It could be.
The boiler manufacturers are all recommending threaded pipe and fittings to connect their boilers to the building's pipes.
There is a great deal of small movement as the pipes drastically change temperature when they fill with steam and copper doesn't absorb that movement the way threaded pipes do. Too often, that movement has lead to cracked boilers and voided warrantys.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at March 9, 2009 6:26 PM
Nice work! Just curious why the vertical pipes that go up into the system cannot be between the two vertical boiler pipes. Isn't the steam already dry because of the drop down--or is this for another reason?
Posted by: Leon at April 7, 2009 6:47 AM
The Piping looks pretty. The Header is wrong! Steam rises. It doesn't fall. If you look at the manuf. near boiler piping You will see the header should be higher than the swing joints. With that said, it may work with out too much noise because it appears from the photo that the condensate will return and not get trapped in the header.
Posted by: wilsonbros1 at September 16, 2009 3:51 PM
The Piping looks pretty. The Header is wrong! Steam rises. It doesn't fall. If you look at the manuf. near boiler piping You will see the header should be higher than the swing joints. With that said, it may work with out too much noise because it appears from the photo that the condensate will return and not get trapped in the header.
Posted by: wilsonbros1 at September 16, 2009 3:51 PM
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