Heating Help

drop header question

In drop headers I sometimes see takeoffs to mains coming off the header at an angle. The supply lines from the boiler, however, always seem to drop straight down into the header.
Why is this?
 If anything, I would have guessed the opposite setup would be preferred: angle the boiler risers as they drop into the header to allow any water carried up into the header to ‘slide down the side,’ staying out of the way of the steam (the same logic that has riser takeoffs piped at 45 from the main), and keep the takeoffs to the main completely vertical to discourage water from working up into the mains. Or perhaps angles would be preferred in both cases, if it wasn’t so darn tricky to pipe- two 45’s often being preferable to a single 90 in matters of plumbing.
Just curious,
Patrick

You mean,

something similar to this?
Yes, it is difficult to do(@ the header point), unless you have the room.  ;-)

Yes!

Though it makes me wonder- why a vertical takeoff frim the header then two 45's into the main? Does this combine the best of both worlds- eliminating a 90 to the main while keeping the initial takeoff vertical to discourage water carryover?
Patrick

Not really,,,,

90`s just happen to be out-of-stock by the time we got to this point,, so I improvised! ;-)

45 degree elbows

Here's one from "Off the Wall" I've always admired and which meets your specifications.
http://www.heatinghelp.com/files/articles/1343/288.pdf

Using extra 90 deg.elbows to make a dropheader is very worthwhile but I'm not sure whether you'd gain that much more by adding  the 45s other than headaches.
- Rod
  

I remember this one

And if my mind doesn't fail me , it was installed by the homeowner . A damn sight better than alot of the pro work I've come across over the years .......

Real nice install Dave

Lemme ask ........

Did you get the sizes right on those nips in the 45s the first time ?

I doubt I could , even after hundreds of steamer installs .

Thank You Ron Jr.,

That means alot coming from you!
I guess I`m lucky working with 45`s, actually I prefer them when I have the room to do so.
This steamer was moved from one-end of the basement to the other because of a bad masonry chimney, the only access for new SS was at the rear of the building.
The top-front breech and close proximity to the wall made things kinda tight. 

You are correct.

that would be the absolute optimal way to do it.

King valves

Are those ball valves rated for steam temperature? And are they full port? I'd be afraid of decreasing velocity so close to the header. When I put kings in they're always gates.

Keith

I find full port ball valves to be

a more cost effective choice. I always make sure they are full port and steam rated. Many of the gate valves I get are either NASA grade or anchor grade so I go with ball Appollo ball valves.