heat cyles/main vents

Steamhead (in transit)

another Gorton #2 to the long main.

Jeff_53

My steam system is having balancing problems.
As long as the boiler runs a long time (30 minuntes plus) all the rads in the house get warm. But on shorter cyles, only the rads closest to the boiler get warm. I have replaced the main vents with two Hoffman 75's on the shorter main and a Gorton #2 on the longer main.

Once the boiler kicks on, it takes a good 5-8 minutes for the steam to travel from the header to the end of the mains with radiators closest to the boiler getting hot before the steam closes the main vents. (Especially on the longer main with the Gorton #2)

In addition, I only have to set my thermostat to about 64 degrees to get to 68 - 70 degrees in the house. I realized that the anticipator is set to run long, but this is the only way I can get steam to travel to the rads farthest from the boiler.

Any thoughts why the rads closest to the boiler are heating up before the mains are vented while the rads farthest away are cold?

chuck_6

Main vents

Steamhead will probably respond to this later, but anticipating his response, please measure the length of each main and the diameter (outside is fine) of each main to see if you have enough venting on the mains.

For the radiator vents, you need to have a bigger opening for the radiators farthest away from the boiler and smaller openings for those closest to the boiler, especially in the room with the thermostat.

Also, call Ken Kunz at Gorton. His number is (908) 276-1323. Gorton makes outstanding air vents and Ken can tell you which vent to put on which radiator, and where you can purchase them.

Chuck

Steamhead (in transit)

You need more venting on the long main

it may have more resistance in it than usual. What are the lengths and diameters of the mains again?

thfurnitureguy_4

Jeff, Check your pipe hangers on your mains to see if you have any sagging pipes. If they sag and fill up with water it won't let steam through. This can act like a venting problem. The pipe expands and contracts like one or two inches in 100 feet. This can snap hanger bolts over time and let the mains sag. Best of luck.

Jeff_53

The shorter main (vented with the Hoffman's) is 46 feet.
The longer main (vented with the Gorton #2) is
54 feet. It also carries more rads than the other main. And three of the six on this side are quite large.