Install Instructions

19
3. STEAM BOILER
a. For Recommended STEAM BOILER PIPING
refer to Figure 12. Also, consult I=B=R,
"Residential Hydronic Heating Installation and
Design Guide".
b. Evaluate the Existing Steam System.
The single most important factor in determining
the expected life cycle of a steam boiler, is
the amount of fresh water added to the boiler
during operation. Fresh water brings minerals
and oxygen into the boiler. These contaminants
greatly accelerate corrosion of the cast iron
boiler sections.
i. Assure that all system radiators, piping and
vents are absolutely leak tight.
• When a steam boiler is installed in an
existing system, ALL air vents should be
replaced at the same time. This assures
that the new boiler will not be
compromised by existing system leaks.
• If the system contains hidden supply or
return piping (hidden behind walls, buried
in concrete, etc.) pressure test this piping
to assure there are no leaks.
ii. Repair any leaks in the system.
iii. Install accurate water meter on the fresh
water supply to the boiler.
NOTICE
DO NOT use softened water in steam boilers.
Accelerated boiler corrosion will result. Tie in
fresh water supply to the boiler upstream of a
water softener.
4. OXYGEN CONTAMINATION:
a. There are many possible causes of oxygen
contamination such as:
i. Addition of excessive make-up water as a
result of system leaks.
ii. Absorption through open tanks and ttings.
iii. Oxygen permeable materials in the
distribution system.
b. In order to insure long product life, oxygen
sources should be eliminated. This can be
accomplished by taking the following measures:
i. Repairing system leaks to eliminate the need
for addition of make-up water.
ii. Eliminating open tanks from the system.
iii. Eliminating and/or repairing ttings which
allow oxygen absorption.
iv. Use of non-permeable materials in the
distribution system.
v. Isolating the boiler from the system water by
installing a heat exchanger.
See Section VII, Paragraph B, Step 3 for additional
details.
NOTICE
Before using copper for steam piping, consider the following characteristics of copper piping:
1) High coefcient of thermal expansion can induce mechanical stresses and cause expansion/
contraction noises if not accounted for in the piping system design and installation,
2) High heat transfer rate (heat loss) of un-insulated copper piping must be included in the normal piping
and pickup factors used to size the boiler,
3) Soldering or brazing pastes and uxes that end up in the system can cause poor heat transfer, surging,
an unsteady water line and wet steam if not thoroughly removed during boil out procedure and,
4) Galvanic corrosion of the adjoining metal may occur due to dissimilar metals in certain water chemistries
if dielectric unions are not used.
III: INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (continued)
Figure 13: Recommended Piping for Combination
Heating & Cooling (Refrigeration) Systems