Steam Traps

Steamhead (in transit)

which was built like a tank and will last a long time if properly cared for. And it's called a BOILER, not a furnace.

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Charles J. Hills

Steam traps

I recently replaced a series of pipes connected to my Father in law's oil fired steam furnace. Now the pipes are banging very loudly. From my research on the web it sounds like a faulty steam trap. My connundrum is I don't know where they are or what they look like or are they even on a home heating system. I will be replaceing the radiator valves since the house is very old and they were never replaced at all. I am hoping that this will help alleviate the problem. Can anyone offer me help in this area ?
Charles J. Hills

Al Letellier_9

traps

I think you need Dan's book...We've got steam heat....you may not have any traps depending on the type of system you have. If there is only one pipe coming thru the floor to the rad, chances are you don't have traps. If you have two pipes, there USUALLY is a trap at the outlet of the radiator and at the end of each main in the basement. But every system is different and I've seen all kinds of scary and beautiful concoctions in steam systems. It may be worth you while to have a pro look at it. An hour of his time could be worth it.

Charles J. Hills

Steam Traps

Just after I posted that note I found the page on this site that gave me some clues as to just what was happening. First things first. To answer your question. He has only one pipe comming from the radiator. What I believe he is experiencing is water hammer. I went to his home and checked my work to make sure all pipes were slanted back to the boiler and I did find one length just after a 90* bend and a short run back to my work had a negative angle. I was able to temporarily prop it up to put a positive slant to it. I put him on notice to see if the problem has gone away and he will inform me tonight at dinner at my home. Thanks a million for your help and I will keep you updated.

Brad White

Check the operating pressure also, Charles

and crank it down to as low as you can, even one lb. may be more than enough. Even if not germaine to a specific problem it "lightens the hammer". It may well solve the issue too. Many other things are possible, so stick around and browse!

Charles J. Hills

The Steam pressure is something I am going to have to find out about. I am aware that it shouldn't go over 2 LBS. Right now it dosen't move off the pin. I am going to replace it with new just to be sure. The water hammer problem so far seems to have gone away. Again I was always aware that the pipes whould always pitch back to the boiler; I just missed this one basically because I duplicated everything that I replaced inch for inch and didn't forsee this happening. I have been solving my own steam boiler problems for years now, however long I've owned this house, and I found this site a great help. My own system is the old coal burning boiler with a gun stuck in the door and rarely do I have any problems and I find it very efficent. So much so that with the recent increase in oil prices I am going to install double pained glass windows to conserve oil before I replace my furnace.
Charles J. Hills

Charles J. Hills

Hydronic Furnace.

To be fair to others browsing this page I am going to post new questions under a new title since this is no longer about steam traps. I will be needing more information about my father in law's system since it seems to be quite different and there some things about it that I don't quite understand. His furnace is built by a hydornic manufacturer out of Lancaster PA. I had written down some information but lost it. I need to go back down the street to get again however, I do know it is a V-33 model furnace. One issue that puzzels me is why does the water in the sight glass rise and fall from full to empty and back again sometimes to only half full while the furnace is firing ? When it shuts down it will return to full again.
Charles J. Hills

Charles J. Hills

Thanks for the correction in the termenology. But can you help me with the sight glass and why the water drops to nothing then comes back ? Where does it go ? Also what is a Hydronic System ?
Charles J. Hills

Steamhead (in transit)

The sight glass action

is likely a symptom of dirty boiler water with oil sitting on top of it. This interferes with steam production and causes the disappearing water in the glass. The boiler will have to be flushed and skimmed to get rid of the dirt and oil. You should have a pro do this, try the Find a Professional page of this site.

A Hydronic system is any system of heating and/or cooling that uses water to move the heat energy. The way the term is used here refers to hot-water heat, we tend to treat Steam as its own category and Vapor as a sub-category of Steam.

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Charles J. Hills

Thanks, I'll talk to my father in law about getting it cleaned professionally.