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Re: 1920s Steam System - How to Add Main Vents
This statement is also system dependent.
" The amount of venting depends on the ability of the boiler to provide steam. When pressure builds up before the main is hot all the way around, then you know you need more venting. "
My system never goes over 2 inches of water column regardless if the main vent is used or valved off. The predominant benefit (main vent versus no (or poor) main venting) is with a hot main the steam will propagate faster, purging the air out as fast as possible, filling the main with steam as fast as possible.
You want enough venting so when the mains are hot the steam will fill the main as fast as possible. There is a point of diminishing returns. Since even with a hot main the steam will only move so fast.
Re: Gas valve/solenoid stuck open on old Janitrol boiler
vent dampers save very little. Some say 1-2%
Re: calculating Nozzle flow rate
your absolutely right, I was misreading the formula and getting the square root last.
Thank you!

Re: Issues with steam system after work completed
if there were wet returns returning from the far end of the mains it is a parallel flow system. the mains are sloped away from the boiler and the wet returns bring the condensate back to the boiler. you have to replace the wet returns.
In theory you could slope everything toward the boiler and add drips before the boiler header to return the condensate but that wouldn't be practical because it would throw all of the pitch to the runouts to the radiators off, the mains are sized for parallel flow, not counter flow, you would essentially end up repiping the entire system.

Re: Gas valve/solenoid stuck open on old Janitrol boiler
I have several contractors coming out in the morning to give me quotes on replacement. It's off and there is no reason to run it since it's not the cold season yet. All is safe, thanks for your concern.

Re: New NYC steam radiator inspection law - what does it mean?
Part of this is educating the tenants. I’ve seen many times in NYC where tenant will turn the air vent upside down to stop the overheating. Many times it’s hanging by a thread. High steam pressure (typical) can knock the vent off. Steam fills the room, which most of the time will have a closed door so the kids can sleep. I’m very glad they’re finally doing the inspections.
Re: 1920s Steam System - How to Add Main Vents
if it is a 1 pipe system and there are no vents on the dry return somewhere then it needs vents where those plugs are but the parts of the asbestos that are falling apart need to be dealt with first.

Re: Am I blind? Not seeing the gas shut-off valve.
I don't see any evidence of pipe dope or tape used on it - it just screws in. I'm sure you guys see more gauges/thermostats/tridicators than I ever have but I haven't seen anything else that only shows temp in F unless it's 80 years old, while this tridicator is brand new - it makes me suspect they're skimping and it could be poor quality. The previous Weil McClean oil boiler that was here's tridicator was displayed in both C and F and if I recall, PSI +kPa.
I moved my previous comment from yesterday evening to a PM with Ed for legal reasons, just in case.
