Heating Help

examining steam piping with an IR camera

@ October 4, 2009 7:21 AM in 1908 steam pics

with an ir camera, you could see where the steam was trying to go, and where the hold ups might be. these cameras seem to have lots of possible uses, including giving the heating contractor a new sideline-energy audits.--nbc

pressure control piping

@ October 4, 2009 7:08 AM in almost done!

the pressure control piping could be connected at the top, so that all 3 pigtails would have to be plugged before becoming inoperative, as i did on mine.-nbc 

dirty twins

@ October 3, 2009 10:16 PM in Boiler Cleaning

those boilers are certainly over due for a cleaning! they are certainly nice examples of the "dead mens" art, so well worth keeping in such good condition, as i can see they have been up until a few months ago. keep up the good work on these beauties, and you will be rewarded with quiet, even, economical heat!!--nbc

wiring up a new thermostat

@ October 3, 2009 10:06 PM in Thermostat wiring

why not make a note of how the thermostat wires are wired at the boiler and their colors, then you will be able to connect the thermostat correctly.-nbc

domestic hot water

@ October 3, 2009 12:56 PM in Hot Water Tank

as regards making DHW with your boiler, you need to consult a steam pro, to find out if you have enough capacity for DHW+steam. use the find a professional button above.-nbc

thermostat rated for steam

@ October 3, 2009 12:52 PM in Themostat

1. most people here like the honeywell "visionpro" set to 1 cycle per hour. it is digital, but works well with steam, when set according to instructions. it can also have a remote sensor, so you could have the base at one location, and monitor another location. maybe your present thermostat is not rated for steam, but the fact that it is digital is not inherently bad, unless there is not a setting for steam heat.maybe the energy auditor was talking about the inadvisability of night setback instead of mercury.

the location should be alright as it is on an inside wall, but is it free from drafts when the front door is opened?-nbc

let's have a little respect

@ October 3, 2009 1:20 AM in drawing of my near boiler piping.

for mickey mouse, after all, he has never pretended to be an engineer! of course everyone is thinking of his lack of foresight in "fantasia" when he went over board  with the brooms et. al; therefore, shall we discard this term from our descriptions here!!.--nbc

we were in your shoes once

@ October 3, 2009 12:28 AM in Runaway Pressuretrol...

it is my pleasure to be helpful, as others were for me, when i was in your situation. not only was i receiving advice; but also encouragement, which was the most important part of my steam experience!--nbc

also in accord

@ October 3, 2009 12:19 AM in Expanding the Search Function on the Wall

i liked that email from the active post as well! can we have it back?--nbc

setback

@ October 2, 2009 5:07 PM in Deep Setback With Steam a Problem?

here is the result of a search here for "setback". just remember that if you ask 3 experts a question you will get 5 answers!
[url=http://www.heatinghelp.com/search/results/setback/1]http://www.heatinghelp.com/search/results/setback/1
nbc

slow roasting

@ October 2, 2009 4:37 PM in Thermostat wiring

i would get a honeywell "visionpro" thermostat, set for 1 cycle per hour, and wire it in as per instructions. you can wire in a remote sensor, if you wish to monitor a different area. for night setback do not drop more than a couple of degrees, or you will burn up your gas savings, bringing the house back up to temperature.-nbc

vaporstat+code

@ October 2, 2009 6:37 AM in Runaway Pressuretrol...

i have never heard of any code requirement against the use of a vaporstat, after all, it performs the same function as a p-trol-only better! there is a requirement that the 30 PSI gauge remain, even though for our purposes, it is useless. i have on my pigtail, a  0-15 oz. gauge, the 30 PSI gauge, a vaporstat, and a secondary pressuretrol [set at 3 PSI, in case there is a vaporstat failure]. upstairs, i have a secondary gauge so i can see if the boiler is firing, as it is now so quiet, i can't hear it, [or have i just become more deaf?] before the renovation of our system [55 rads], we could feel the water-hammer through the floor!
as far as the number of main vents on each dry return, my method was to add until silent-no whistling at the rads!
it would not be wise to run a boiler, without a functioning pressuretrol to keep the maximum pressure below its rated maximum.--nbc

unreamed pipe?

@ October 2, 2009 6:10 AM in Just because it's been that way for years

can anyone elaborate on the effect of unreamed pipe?--nbc

clean boiler

@ October 1, 2009 10:50 PM in Getting a boiler cleaned...

first get a copy of dan's books here, and read up on "skimming", and you can learn how to do the cleaning yourself.
a little bit of rusty water coming out, whenever you blow down either the LWCO, or the main boiler drain is not worrysome; unless it  is allowed to stay inside the boiler too long, without being "blown out".-nbc

short-cycling with a vaporstat?

@ October 1, 2009 10:40 PM in Runaway Pressuretrol...

if your main line venting is generous, and your boiler is not over-fired, you should have no short-cycling problems. the vaporstat is so much better at regulating the low pressures that steam thrives on.--nbc

ancient steam pro needed

@ October 1, 2009 12:11 AM in Help finding professional near Detroit, MI

maybe there could be a retired steam pro in your area able to correct any problems.--nbc

ancient steam pro needed

@ October 1, 2009 12:10 AM in Help finding professional near Detroit, MI

maybe there could be a retired steam pro in your area able to correct any problems.--nbc

steam header piping

@ October 1, 2009 12:08 AM in new boiler install

have a look at the mfg's installation requirements, and instructions;  and follow them as a minimum. otherwise excessive steam velocity will pick up too much water, and you will have wet steam.
generally, you need full diameter from the supply tappings [use them all]  all the way up to the 24 " above waterline minimum, and if you can do a drop header, so much the better. the transition of boiler size to steam main size should be above that height.--nbc

motown steam pro?

@ September 30, 2009 6:46 PM in Help finding professional near Detroit, MI

did you try "find a professional" on the control bar above?
even if you can only find an old wrench jockey who can read dan's books available from the shop here, we can help you get'r done!--nbc

caught in the middle?

@ September 30, 2009 6:40 PM in Combustion Air System

sounds like a job for the BBB !
[url=http://www.bbb.org/us/]http://www.bbb.org/us/
there are various arrangements of ducting which have a sort of draft hood sticking out the basement window, and terminating just above the floor. they promise to only allow in the amount of air  needed as the boiler is firing.--nbc

hot stuff

@ September 30, 2009 12:27 PM in Thermostat for Hot Yoga Room

would a sauna thermostat work, or even a complete sauna setup?--nbc

welcome to the greatest steam heating forum

@ September 30, 2009 12:07 PM in Air vent sizing for system with no main vent, installing 2nd vents

i would certainly like to hear more of your steam adventures/fixes, etc.
it would give other newbies here confidence in making the old systems work! i also am in your position, however with only this 1 steam system left  [others were ripped out when we divided up the warehouses into apts.--nbc