Cold radiators

Bob Bardoorian

Pressure gauge reads about 2 lbs. As I recollect now, when we first moved here there was a little water hammer every now and then, but with the new boiler and smaller nozzles there never is. I am going to start replacing trap cages with new B&J 3133's which are correct for the old Dunham #1 traps. This will conserve steam and eliminate any premature losses and "shortcuts" back into the returns, but I'm thinking larger nozzles might be the answer-
Bob

Bob Bardoorian

cold radiators

We have a large 4200 sqft 82 year old home with two pipe steam. 16 radiators on 4 levels. original smith bb4 was replaced with a newer slant fin liberty about 5 years ago. Honeywell setback thermostat with adaptive steam settings. There are two radiators one on third floor and one on fourth that do not heat. The supply pipe is hot up to about a foot from the valve but no further on the fourth floor. I suspected a closed trap, but even with the trap out no steam? I removed the valve-still no steam? Could the supply pipe be totally clogged just short of the valve- it looks clear? The last few visits for routine boiler cleanings resulted in new nozzles that are smaller than what was installed. Could there be a lack of steam due to underfiring? Now the kicker, it would appear that all the traps are C.A.Dunham #1. I believe they are the originals as my research shows Dunham Bush 1A, 1B, etc.

Bob

Al Letellier_9

no heat

You may be right on with the nozzle downsizing, if the replacement boiler was sized correctly. This may be one time when you may need just a little more pressure to make things work. If the new near boiler piping is correct and you still get no steam with the traps out, you definitely are not making enough steam. It's unlikely that the supplies are plugged....always a possibility, but its the last thing I would look for.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If the nozzle downsizing resulted in the inability of the system to completely fill with steam, how could increasing the pressure work if the thermostat is satisifed before the boiler is forced to cycle on pressure during moderate weather?

Bob Bardoorian

partially cold radiators

Well I replaced several trap elements with new B&J and one radiator came to life, and two others are OK and running a little cooler but thoroughly, I think those traps were stuck open, or couldn't close very well.
The others did not respond and upon closer examination over several firings I observed heat at the top of the radiators in question, but cold bottoms and cold return lines.
There is a large cast Dunham air eliminator with an air vent at the end of the return and a check valve at the bottom where it joins up with the hartford loop. Is it possible the air eliminator is stuck? How about the check valve? Would the result be little or no condensate being able to return to the boiler from that line?

Steamhead (in transit)

Not condensate but air

Take off the vacuum check- it just unscrews. Then fire the boiler and see if air comes out. If it doesn't, that's at least part of the problem. Leave the check off, vacuum doesn't work well unless you're burning solid fuels. Install a Gorton #2 main vent in its place.

Have you checked the crossover traps at the ends of the steam mains? If these are stuck or leaking they may also cause the symptoms you describe.

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