air valves on mains or returns

steam newbie

Yes, I meant F & T traps at the end of the main and it is a pumped return.

steam newbie

air vents on mains or returns?

I know the steam system in my building is out of balance. I've had a couple of contractors in to give me some ideas and estimates for the first steps to take to get things working more efficiently. The first contractor said that the air valves on the mains were in the wrong locations. I know (from doing a little research) that he is correct about some of them (i.e. those that are at directly at a top of a tee) but he said that some of the others should be relocated. He suggested taking them from off the steam main and putting them on the return which is on the other side of the steam trap. At the time he explain to me why and it made sense, but now I can't remember his reasoning. I can't find anything about this in any of the books that I have. This contractor came hignly recommended by someone I trust and is known as a steam heat specialist. The other contractor is a plumber and said that there was no reason to do that. Both recommended that the steam traps be checked to ensure that they are working correctly and to resize the air valves on the mains as they are too small. I guess my question is, has anyone heard of putting air valves on the return rather than the main? The system is one pipe dry return. Thanks for any help in advance.

gerry gill

when you say steam trap,

do you mean F&T trap at the end of the main? do you have a gravity return or pumped return

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Big Ed

Main Vents

Best to install the main vent after the last riser to the radiator on the main run. Maybe he recommended futher down the return line for ease of repiping. Next to a union perhaps ?