Piping In The Hartford Loop & Wet Return, A Fitting Split & Leaked

[@tome1136]

What about the plate on the left side for the hot water coil? Do you have to do anything to it to prevent it from leaking? Every boiler I had in the past always leaked there and it was a bear to replace the plate, gasket and bolts! Thanks

[@gordonschweizer5154]

I get what you are saying about that "thankless" coil plate gaskets. I wish they would do away with it (unlikely to happen, though). I am sorry, but I don't have any magic cures for the darn things.

[@marcinmerrimack1726]

McMaster-Carr has high quality pigtails in various configurations.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Yes they do. Although I was not totally pleased with their 270 pigtail, as it was annoyingly just a little off angle. It was better than nothing, and of course M-C is justly famous for their professional customer service.

[@arturocubria9398]

Is a water feeder necessary in a steam system? My WFE-24 just stopped working in the "on" position and flooded part of my basement. Can I bypass it, feed water manually regularly when needed and rely on the Low Water Cut Off to kick in if the water level goes down?

[@gordonschweizer5154]

The automatic water feeder is not a safety device & therefore not necessary for the safe operation of a steam boiler. Some argue that an automatic water feeder should not be installed at all. Flooding a system when it sticks open, as you have unfortunately discovered, is one such reason for not using them. However, if you replace your failed WFE-24 with a Hydrolevel VXT-24 automatic water feeder, the advantages of that feeder system outweigh the cons, in my professional opinion.

[@ed6837]

Nice job! Rare to see a malleable fitting crack.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thank you! I think I can count on the fingers on one hand the number of malleable fitting cracks I've had & have fingers left over. Cast iron fittings, on the other hand...

[@bauhnguefyische667]

Oh boy, Now it’s those pesky Vietnamium fittings. I always wondered how you could ship iron fitting half way around the world and cost less😂

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Not sure they actually were made in 'nam. Who's to say they weren't made in west tie-won, sent by rail across the frontier and just shipped out of Haiphong harbor to avoid tariffs. I'm looking on ytube for any videos on making malleable fittings & and there don't seem to be that many. I would imagine that conditions in said establishments are Dickensian at best, & hence the dirt cheap price.

[@Altmechanic]

On the wet side y not do all copper? Those mailable fittings meh.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

If the old steel wet return is in good shape, the extra expense and time to replace it is unwarranted. In this case, there was no evidence of leakage or clogged, rusty sludge. All of the steel pipe on this job was above ground and accessible for inspection. It was in excellent condition on the inside when we cut it to install the megapress fitting. It was also sch. 80 pipe. A VXT feeder will "keep watch" for any leaks. As to the malleable fitting that failed, SupplyHouseDotCom mailed out a new fitting right away when I showed them the video. I remain hopeful for better things from 'Nam, and wish them the best.

[@pb7379-j2k]

The equalizer is doubly oversized since almost nothing travels through it! No steam, no air, and only a few water drops

[@ChingusTheOneAndOnly]

Not true , I’ve witnessed the weil mclain steam boiler with a Pyrex header demonstration in person .

[@pb7379-j2k]

@@ChingusTheOneAndOnly yes I’ve seen the video. They crank up the psi and then let it blow, artificially creating insane carryover. That is not normal operation. Look at my videos to see normal operation (no water in the header) and also abnormal operation where I too caused carryover by various means

[@rmoran9999]

You use regular steel fittings. You don't like to use steam fittings. I use steel myself

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thank you for the kind words. I do get a few folks calling me out for not using "steam" or cast iron fittings. You don't see that because I mute them, as I find that trying to have a discussion with them goes nowhere but down. Nor was this video intended to be a rant against Vietnam in particular or foreign fittings in general, but a report of what happened.

[@scottk0623]

Nice job. How big of Megapress jaws did you get? I have toyed with the thought of one. You certainly have been having your share of missing burners & trim🤦🏻. You handle it better than I do.

[@gordonschweizer5154]

Thanks! We have a set of megapress jaws from 1/2" to 2". I use them to make "instant" threads so to speak. The burner eventually arrived & was installed. No reason to rant about that... on video.... yet.