Heating Help

three radiators connected together

@ May 18, 2011 5:21 PM in three radiators connected together

Vacuum system. can three steam radiators be connected in a row. steam in at the top of radiator number one and pipe ran to the next radiator at the top and then to the third radiator at the top. the bottom of all three raditors are connected the same way with a steam trap at the bottom of the last raditor. is this ok, will it work? Has been installed for years this way
Should I trap each radiator and leave the steam entering all three as is. or do I have to connect each steam supply individually to each radiator.

problems with big vac system in chicago

@ March 21, 2010 10:47 AM in Problems with a big vacuum system in Chicago

Thanks for all the input. on Monday 22nd we will be conducting some tests, the leak theory has been one that we just kicked around over the weekend, we will pursue all the opinions I have heard, I need to find the problem and all your inputs give me more direction I'll keep you posted.

steam vacuum no heat

@ March 16, 2010 11:32 AM in steam vacuum no heat

We have a 26 story condo building on Lake Shore Drive. Extremely well maintained steam boilers and vacuum pump system. Stationary engineer on staff 24 hours a day. The engineer has been in the building for over 25 years. The problem started about three months ago. One tier of the system does not heat and the condensate returns from several tiers stay below 80 degrees for hours, never really heats up.
 
Some facts:
*The engineer has ran this system in a vacuum 25 years and before he even started there it ran lie this.
*The boiler stays in a vacuum during the entire heating cycle.
*Steam down feed system.
*He runs the system with one boiler unless it is below 15 degrees outdoors.
*The boiler has an input of 8,600,000btu’s
*We have run two boilers each at 8,600,000 total of 17,200,000btu – outdoor temp. 49 degrees
*Incoming gas pressure is more then required.
*After running both boilers for 60 minutes we still have condensate return lines below 69 degrees in this one section.
*We have end of main traps in the basement at 155 degrees. They tie into the main return pipe and the temperature lowers to below 85 degrees.
*We have changed all ends of main traps, float & Thermostatic.
*Installed gauges on the tier up stream of the trap with the problem and the end of main stays in a vacuum of 5in wc / the return gauge reads maybe 6in wc vacuum.
*Shut off the gate valve to isolate the steam main from the main condensate return pipe and the main stays at the same vacuum reading.  
*Vacuum pump keeps the system in a vacuum of 8in wc when boilers are off. Then the boilers start up and approx. 20 minutes later the vacuum may rise to 3>5in wc during heat run.
*Checked all valves and they are wide open.
 
My questions are:
*Why are my condensate lines so cool for a section of the building?
*Is it uncommon to have a steam system run in a vacuum during the entire heating cycle?
*Why can I run two boilers and still have what appears to be no steam movement?
*What tests can I further run to determine the cause?
*Am I overlooking some simple solutions?
 
I thank you for your time,
 
Bob Crokenower

steam vacuum no heat

@ March 16, 2010 11:32 AM in steam vacuum no heat

Hi Dan,
 
I know you have better things to do then take me by the hand on this, I apologize for emailing you back with this information but I don’t seem to understand how to get on the wall. I am sure I did something wrong. Here is my problem; I am calling the phone number in your book to help get some assistance to get this on the wall.
 
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I sent this first message by mistake without giving you some facts about our problems. I will try and be as brief as possible but hit all the main points.
 
We have a 26 story condo building on Lake Shore Drive. Extremely well maintained steam boilers and vacuum pump system. Stationary engineer on staff 24 hours a day. The engineer has been in the building for over 25 years. The problem started about three months ago. One tier of the system does not heat and the condensate returns from several tiers stay below 80 degrees for hours, never really heats up.
 
Some facts:
*The engineer has ran this system in a vacuum 25 years and before he even started there it ran lie this.
*The boiler stays in a vacuum during the entire heating cycle.
*Steam down feed system.
*He runs the system with one boiler unless it is below 15 degrees outdoors.
*The boiler has an input of 8,600,000btu’s
*We have run two boilers each at 8,600,000 total of 17,200,000btu – outdoor temp. 49 degrees
*Incoming gas pressure is more then required.
*After running both boilers for 60 minutes we still have condensate return lines below 69 degrees in this one section.
*We have end of main traps in the basement at 155 degrees. They tie into the main return pipe and the temperature lowers to below 85 degrees.
*We have changed all ends of main traps, float & Thermostatic.
*Installed gauges on the tier up stream of the trap with the problem and the end of main stays in a vacuum of 5in wc / the return gauge reads maybe 6in wc vacuum.
*Shut off the gate valve to isolate the steam main from the main condensate return pipe and the main stays at the same vacuum reading.  
*Vacuum pump keeps the system in a vacuum of 8in wc when boilers are off. Then the boilers start up and approx. 20 minutes later the vacuum may rise to 3>5in wc during heat run.
*Checked all valves and they are wide open.
 
My questions are:
*Why are my condensate lines so cool for a section of the building?
*Is it uncommon to have a steam system run in a vacuum during the entire heating cycle?
*Why can I run two boilers and still have what appears to be no steam movement?
*What tests can I further run to determine the cause?
*Am I overlooking some simple solutions?
 
I thank you for your time,
 
Bob Crokenower

steam supply drops below boiler

@ April 9, 2008 10:59 AM in I have the steam supply underground below boiler-rads

I have a steam supply line that dropd from the steam header below the water line, runs horizontally under ground trying to feed 10-12 radiators. one pipe steam system. It does have a return coming back from the radiatiors next to the steam main, and goes back to the boiler. these radiator do not heat I need help