Steam Heating Question

Steamhead (in transit)

were designed to run at no more than 2 pounds. Many 2-pipe systems were designed for no more than 8 ounces. The Dead Men knew low pressures were safer and more economical.

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Concerned Apartment Owner

Steam Heating Question

I'm having someone fix this but I thought I would get an other professional opinion I have three radiators in my apartment. The steam reaches the motorized control valve in one radiator, currently in the manual on position, but doesn't seem to flow though the radiator. The problem with the other radiator is that only half, the side closest to the motorized control valve. The third radiator works fine. I've mentioned this to the building engineer and he says he has to turn up the steam pressure in the building. When this is done steam flows through all three radiators and one starts ticking. But when at a lower pressure there is only steam flowing in basically 1.5 radiators working properly. All the steam traps elements have been replaced. I would like to know anyone thoughts on this.

Thanks

Steamhead (in transit)

Shouldn't have to turn pressure up

you probably have a venting problem- air can't get out of the returns. Or there are bad traps elsewhere.

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Concerned Apartment Owner

Steam Heating Question

Thanks for the reply. As far as bad traps else where. Do you mean there could be a problem in another apartment with the same radiator line?

Steamhead (in transit)

Yes

a trap that won't close will admit steam to the dry return, which will pressurize it. This has the effect of slowing the steam flow or stopping it completely. Where the pressure in the return is close to the pressure in the supply, very little steam will flow thru the rad.

"High pressure goes to low pressure.... always". - Dan Holohan


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Concerned Apartment Owner

Rather interesting since

all the steam traps discs in the the building have been replaced. Mine included. Is there any value is just replacing the whole steam trap as opposed to the discs inside? So basically increasing the pressure in the buiding is the incorrect solution. Find the bad traps and change them?

Concerned Apartment Owner

So if the steam trap fails in the open

position the return is pressurized and steam wont flow through. And if the steam trap closes in the closed position then the steam has no where to go. But increasing the overall pressure seems to solve the problem. What does this say about the steam trap causing the problem<

Steamhead (in transit)

Well, it means

the traps are likely not the problem, unless some of the new elements were bad.

How does the air get out of those dry returns? Are the steam mains and risers properly vented? If the air can't get out, the steam can't get in. Turning up the pressure simply compresses the air.

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Concerned Apartment Owner

What if instead of the pressure intentially being kept at a

lower than optimal pressure in order to save steam? Would this mask itself as the same problem? I don't have those answers as of now. Thanks

Concerned Apartment Owner

Would this be the same for a high rise

apartment building with vacuum system too? Our building is 30 stories..

blackoakbob_2

If ......

and not knowing the piping layout, the vaccum is too high in the returns it may hold the disc traps closed. Say the vacuum was greater than 5" this could impact the traps. Have the repair person crack the cap on the trap to see if there is water in the radiator and if the return draws the water down when the cap is lose. Or have them lower the vaccum to see if there is an impact on condensate return.
Best Regards.

Concerned Apartment Owner

Not that's an interesting take on it.

The building engineer say he has to raise the steam pressure to correct the problem. That would make sense if the vacuum pressure is too high. I have a someone sheduled to look at it. Not trying to fix it myself. Just trying to understand what's going on.

Concerned Apartment Owner

Not that's an interesting take on it.

The building engineer say he has to raise the steam pressure to correct the problem. That would make sense if the vacuum pressure is too high. I have a someone sheduled to look at it. Not trying to fix it myself. Just trying to understand what's going on.