No heat upstairs

Pat_17

When I measure the pipe with a tape measure it is 8 in around.Can I put in a better main valve then the Gorton no 1? I have all new Gorton air valves in all the radiators and in the 2 problem rads i put in varivalve adjustabes and have opened them all the way which I hoped would pull in more heat.I do get air coming thru those valves but the heat is slow to come unless the system is allowed to run longer then needed

Pat_17

poor heat upstairs

I've pitched all radiators and installed new valves and the downstairs works so well the T-stat kicks off before the upstairs gets its chance.How can I get the steam upstairs fast.I already have adj vents opened all the way

thfurnitureguy_4

Pat,
Some things you might look at. You may not have enough venting on your mains. There should be a large vent where the main turns down and becomes a return. If your risers to the up stairs are near the end of the main,they will get steam after the down stairs. You want the main to be full of steam start to end in about 1 to 2 min.( this is after the boiler starts to produce steam.) This will allow the system to come up to temp evenly. Pipe insulation should be on all your mains and risers also.
If your system is well vented or the upstairs risers are not at the end, you may have to slow down the vents at the stat room. I hope this helps,best of luck. ps I assume that you have a 1 pipe steam system.

Pat_17

Thanks for the help! My riser to the upstairs is at the end of the main and the main vent is a Gorton Air Elimator NO 1. Is there a vent that would be a better choice? Also I'm in the process of insulating my mains and risers and would like to know how to insulate the returns and large pipes coming out of the furnace if at all.

Bob W._3

First, if the weather has been warm, its sometimes hard to get the upstairs as warm before the T stat is satisfied. What kind of thermostat do you have and what is the anticipator setting on it? You can lengthen the burn time somewhat by adjusting the setting. This will allow more time for the steam to travel to the farthest away radiators.

Whether your Gorton No. 1 is sufficient depends on the volume of air that need eliminating. What is the length and diameter of each main (is there only one?) Post that and the steam guys here will help you out.

Pat_17

no heat upstairs

Bob

When my main comes out of the wall and is visible to me (it is about 15 feet from the furnace) it runs 25 feet before turning left for another 15 feet to the Gortons NO 1 Air Elimanator.The T-stat is white-rodgers and I'm sorry but I don't know how to check the anticipator setting.Hopefully I will finish the insulation of the mains today and I'll see what effect that has.Thanks for your time and help

Bob W._3

Pat, what size pipe is the main? From your description it appears to be about 55 feet long total. It will probably need more venting.

Bob W._3

Sounds like 2" pipe. You would need at least 2 Gorton No. 1's or better yet a Gorton No. 2 on that main. Which adjustable vents did you use on the problem rads? If they were Hoffman 1A's they will not vent nearly as much air as, for example, a Gorton C.

Pat_17

Bob

I put the insulation on the pipes today and yes they are two inches.I'm using Heat-Timer Varivalve adjustable valves on the two problem rads and they are opened all the way. I will try The Gorton NO 2 on the main air vent because my daughter's room is the last on the main just before the vent and her room is also above an unheated garage so I really must get heat at that rad. Thanks, Pat

Bob W._3

Do you what the anticipator on the T Stat is set at? About how long does your boiler run each cycle? How far apart are the cycles and what has the weather been like?