gravity system

Steamhead (in transit)

I've seen many of these in Baltimore. When dual (combined feeder and safety) valves came out someone got the dim-bulb idea they could handle the pressure by alternately feeding and then releasing water using the dual valve. This saved the cost of a tank. Trouble is, this wears the valves out, and if one of them gets stuck it could cause a leak or even an explosion.

Whenever I see one of these I sell the owner on a diaphragm expansion tank and a new dual valve and backflow preventer.

wilber

gravity system

is it possible to have a gravity system without an exspansion tank a closed system

RoosterBoy

sure .

pipe goes up the chimney does a u'ie and drops back to the basement floor any expansion runs down the drain.:)

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Saw one in the St. Louis area. No circulator, no expansion tank. Was told they relied on the small amount of air trapped in the top of each radiator.

Ron Schroeder_3

I guess the gypo contractor is not a new phenomenon after all.

I always thought that all the Dead Guys were good guys. Did you really have to disabuse me of that idea?

Doc Radiant

Yes and no. Some early gravity systems used an OPEN expansion tank in the attic, so it was an "open" system with an expansion tank.

[Deleted User]

yes but

a closed system utilizing the little air pockets in the radiator tops? give me a break. The expansion tank in the attic is legitimate. Air pockets are not.