Tandem boilers

[allseason]

I was in a circa 1890 boarding house recently. Central heat with steam boiler(s), Utica circa 1978. I have not seen a set up like this before, it looks like two boilers with individual burners attached to each other as you would sections of a radiator. When tested only one side fired up. Is the other side to provide addtional heat should the one burner be inadequate or should both run together. There is only one thermostat, TPRV, low water cut off , etc. New to me, anyone familiar with this arrangment?

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[Bill Kibbel]

That set-up is common for replacements of big old boilers (easier to get two sections down the narrow basement stairs).

For steam, both sides should be firing.

[kurt]

What Kibble said.

I see this occasionally, although I've never seen one where only one unit fires.

If there's a single T-stat, it should fire both boilers, no?

[Chad Fabry]

If there's a single T-stat, it should fire both boilers, no?

Like Bill said- for steam both units should fire.

For hydronic, they could be set-up with a pair of aquastats so the second one fires only when the primary cannot keep up with demand ...or they could be setup with one aquastat so that they both fired on demand.

[kurt]

Yeah, OK. I've just seen them with a single aqua stat, single t-stat, boilers run in parallel.

[Jim Morrison]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

[allseason]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

True, but common unfortunately. Thanks for all the input fellas.

[plummen]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

K-copper?

[Bill Kibbel]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

K-copper?

It doesn't matter what type of copper. It expands and contracts and the joints fail.

[plummen]

Are you familiar with brazed type -k copper?

[Bill Kibbel]

Yes, I am. Are you attempting to defend using copper for steam risers?

[plummen]

Im just saying that sometimes there is more than one option,especially on a small boiler .

My first question on that particular boiler from what i see in the picture is where is the insulation on the lines,and since im willing to bet it was asbestos who removed and how did they remove it.

[kurt]

No option on steam. Iron. Pipefitting.

[plummen]

http://www.copper.org/applications/plum ... stems.html

[plummen]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... a8u3tLAz1Q

[kurt]

Who'd have ever imagined that Copper.org would think it's OK?

Of course there's lots of stuff one can do if they're so inclined.

Personally, I pay attention to the guys installing and working on steam systems for the last century. Other's can listen to professional organization webmeisters.

[Jim Morrison]

Not only do the joints leak, but the rest of the copper gets perforated. I don't know what flies in other parts of the country, but we rarely see copper risers on a steam system, and when we do, it's obvious why it's such a bad idea. Type K brazed copper? Never seen it on a steam system.

[plummen]

Who'd have ever imagined that Copper.org would think it's OK?

Of course there's lots of stuff one can do if they're so inclined.

Personally, I pay attention to the guys installing and working on steam systems for the last century. Other's can listen to professional organization webmeisters.

Did you notice the copper guys posted the standards from the engineering books?

You guys seem to like to have it both ways around here.

When it fits what you want its because the national electric code says and thats the only answer,it doesnt matter what problems the guys in the field have with it because they obviously were installing it wrong.

But when the code says it can be done and they show you the standards to back it up it doesnt matter,because the guys in the fitters union dont like to do it that way.

So exactly how many of you guys have a 3rd grade engineers license,or any kind of a back ground or actual hands on experiance other than pointing at a boiler in house? []

[kurt]

Like I said, there's lots of ways to do stuff. I'm all for engineers saying it's OK and doing it any way they want on their jobs.

The engineers I work with know that copper is a bad way to go.

Everyone gets to choose. I choose what I know works.

Are there a lot of steam systems in Louisville, Nebraska?

[plummen]

Ive got an old 93hp kewanee in one of my buildings in omaha,no copper on that one but its also the size of my old chevy cube van and heats 27 apartments and 6 commercial bays.

There are many updated steam boilers around omaha,and many of them have k copper plumbed into them theyve been running for years without issues.

Many of the hot water boilers I still work on around omaha still run steel piping,some of them have been repiped in copper it depends on when they were installed.

[Neal Lewis]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

Copper risers for the Peerless steam boiler my basement. 23 years old and no leakage whatsover.

And yup, it's piped with a bullheaded tee...

Any chance there was an outdoor reset for that system?

[plummen]

So is there anything in a mechanical code book that says you can never use K-copper under any circumstances in any steam boiler?

I mean since most of you guys(not all of you)seem to like to get your answers directly from a book. [:-monkeyd

[plummen]

Also, copper risers? That is an unfailing sign of an installer who doesn't understand steam systems.

Copper risers for the Peerless steam boiler my basement. 23 years old and no leakage whatsover.

And yup, it's piped with a bullheaded tee...

Any chance there was an outdoor reset for that system?

Could you post a picture of your boiler install?[]

[kurt]

Oh, lighten up.

You show up out of nowhere and proceed to respond to every post from the last 5 years, then go all agro with a bunch of strangers.

Use copper of it's important to you.

Sheesh.......

[plummen]

No you need to lighten up ,i went through the same bunch of crap from you guys on the A coil post when i talked about using oversize coils with you guys rattling on about i didnt know what i was talking about,then i posted the manufacturers suggestions for over size coils proving it was legitimate.

As i was basically told years of field experiance meant nothing if it wasnt designed by an engineer or in a code book .

So now im just asking where it says in the code that K-copper cannot never be used in a steam boiler system,and no the experiance from old guys whove been in the field for 100 years doesnt count as you guys have already said.[^]