Boiler Piping?

[NESTAFL]

We are installing a Sussman ES-72 electric boiler and it appears the previous piping was copper pipe... I was curious if anyone feels this is sufficient, safe, standard, etc., etc. My experience has always been steam requires black pipe. We also had a boiler company bid on an install and they used copper pipe in their quote. Call me crazy but I sure would like some confidence that the steam has been properly ran. Thanks

Jordan

[mlabbe]

Jordan,

Copper pipe is usually used in cases where "clean steam" is the goal. It is the cheapest option in a pipe that will not rust! The other option would be to go stainless steel.

Black pipe is really inexpensive, but it does begin to rust immediately.

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
Mike

[Beersmith]

We have a low pressure (15 PSI) gas-fired steam boiler that is piped with copper. It was done according to the installation manual, and has been inspected annually by the state. We have had no problems with it in 6 years. However, I can't speak for what piping would be suitable for a high pressure boiler. That's just our experience, hope it helps!

[RobZamites]

In MI, high-pressure steam requires black pipe, AFAIK.

[jfulton]

Jordan,

I have the same boiler installed with black pipe and it runs like a champ. You will initially have to dump the boiler contents - due to build up of rust in the condensate return - for a few months, but it works great. Cheap too...well, cheap steam piping in TX is kind of an oxymoron, but anyways, that's my $.02.

Jamie Fulton
The Covey Restaurant & Brewery
Fort Worth, TX

[RobZamites]

You'll want to (if possible), feed softened water to your Sussman electric, if anything, to minimize scale buildup on the electrodes/elements which will lead to fast breakdown.
I blow mine down under pressure every two weeks, but the guy who installed my system just told me, "Why blow down? Just turn it off at night, in the morning drain it, then refill and go!" Made sense to me, since the boiler only holds about 12-15 gallons of water at the most.

Rob

[Greenbrewmonkey]

Hello folks,

Always helps to get a second quote, and check with any state inspectors to see what is really required under local codes. To lengthen the boiler life, have a company that specializes in such things check your water and provide recommendations based on your boiler and pipe work. You may find that not only do you want to soften / RO your water, but then build back in a certain level of certain ions to help inhibit corrosion. Clean steam can be useful, especially if you would like to use it for keg cleaning or some such at some point

You also may not want to simply shut down the boiler at night if you would like it do things for you while you gently slumber. Such as fire up early enough (timer) that you walk into the brewhouse with water at strike temperature. Or anything else you might need the steam for. Assuming your HLT is steam heated of course.

Cheers,
Ron
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales