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Name: Al    City: Albuquerque

Question: I have a 1 1/2" schedule 80 wye-strainer, running 15 lbs steam pressure, in an outside location. I have found it cracked on two occasions in the last month. I feel that it is caused by below freezing temps at night freezing the condensate that is stuck in the strainer when there is no demand for steam. There is no steam trap or bypass around the coil that this is servicing so condensate backs up when there is no demand for steam. Friends think I'm overtightening the 1 1/2" schedule 40 pipe in and out of the trap. I think it would take a heck of a lot more torque than I can generate to break a schedule 80 fitting. What do you all think? Am I the next super-hero? Al