Hey… Happy Holidays, Everybody! =D
Yesterday, the heating guy replaced a 1-1/4″ pipe and I noticed he used black pipe. I’ve always understood that black pipe is for gas, while galvanized should be used for anything that is water, such as steam. Am I wrong or should I get him back here to make it right. I don’t want to tear open the ceiling again in a few years.
Thanks
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Replies
Black pipe is the standard for steam. When the system de-oxygenates, then the corrosive actions of the water bound oxygen will end.
Your fitter will know what the local codes require
Black pipe is the standard for steam. When the system de-oxygenates, then the corrosive actions of the water bound oxygen will end.
Your fitter will know what the local codes require
Traditionally black iron was better made and more gas-tight. The seam in black iron was welded, vs just relying on the galvanization to effectively solder the seam shut. But I suspect all iron pipe is made the same anymore.
Gases, including steam use black iron
The primary reason is/was spot corrosion. If you have a galvanized pipe and scratch the galvanizing all the corrosion happens there, at an accelerated rate. Because the electrical potential that drives the corrosion, is generated by the entire mass of the steel, but the only place it can corrode is at the scratch, so it is very accelerated at that one spot.
The resulting weak spot corrodes out, and can cause the pipe to rupture. With water it is a leak, and while a concern, will rarely have fatal consequences. With a pressurized gas, such as steam, the result can be catastrophic.
Makes sense to me, I never thought of that.
Tim
I see you modified your reply. I was going to ask you if you were getting obsessed with some of your answers.
Merry Christmas.
My tolerance
for the made-up and BS sometimes put forth here sometimes grows thin and replys need editing. I DO recognize that fact and make amends when necessary.
Hope that you and yours had a great Christmas as well.
You bet we did.........
and still are for that matter. A great Christmas w/family (13 m.o. grandson) and friends. Tomorrow the Nashvilians pull out then it's back to the grindstone-thankful that I have something to grind.
Same for you all I hope!
Thanks for all the replies, everybody.... and especially for going into such great detail. The heating company sent a different couple of guys to finish up today (has nothing to do with the first guy, they always send whoever is available at the time) and they explained it pretty much just as you folks did. I feel much more edgycated now!
Happy Holidays to All Of Ya! <|:o)>
...and yes, that's s'posed to be a Santa.
Peace!
Yeah, I'm not sure when they stopped making the non-welded pipe -- maybe 75 years ago. But of course plumbing codes/standards go back much farther than that.
Holes
Since 1824, most, if not all (certainly all steel pipe) pipe for use in plumbing has been formed from a flat piece of steel and welded with one continuous seam. Seamless steel tubing, used primarily for structural applications, has been around in various forms since 1888. I don't know to what you're referring. I suspect we have that in common.
The rule of holes states, "When you're in one, stop digging". Seems apropos, here.
Black iron pipe has always been the standard for steam heating.
As I write this, I sit in a plant that does nothing but make steel pipe. Not iron or copper, but steel.
At least three entirely different processes are used to make the pipe. It's anyones' guess as to which process is used for a particular order. The pipe is made to an enormous variety of specifications; some are particular to various industries, some are unique to the specific customer. There can also be far more involved than just 'welding.'
I only say this because this thread is chock full of authoritative assertions that just aren't so. Be wary of assuming expertise from reading handbooks and magazine articles. I also see a very flawed understanding of corrosion expressed by one person.
From the customers' perspective, it matters not how the pipe was made. I believe that the core question is: Why do they use ordinary pipe, rather than galvanized pipe, in boiler systems? This might lead to the question: what happens if you do use galvanized pipe in a boiler? For that matter, is 'iron' pipe really iron, or is it steel?
I will say that the operation and maintenance of boilers is an art of its' own. There are various 'treatments' and procedures used that address the issues of corrosion that might otherwise cause the system to fail earlier than it should. Likewise, not every pipe joint compound is approved for steam use.
Not encouraging you
to "flame" anyone but in general, the knowledgeable people on BreakTime, and there are plenty of really sharp, experienced professionals here, should call out the BSers in some fashion or another. Dispute or contradict that which you know to be incorrect.
I get criticized for this approach, but I think it only makes for a better, more informative Forum for all, especially those that come here seeking help. 50% of the time, they get responses that are so far from accurate, I shudder to think of the damage one person could cause here by pretending to "know it all". Sure, you would hope that people would be wary of any input recieved from anonymous strangers on the internet. But you would also hope that a community of knowledgable people could "police" themselves and be somewhat helpful.