old vapor system broomell

patrick linhardt

Hi Greg,

Of course, Steamhead is right on target with the vents, but what kind of problems are you having when you say it doesn't heat well?

How are you controlling the steam pressure? This type of system is very sensitive to pressure control.

Are all the original radiator handvalves still installed, or have some been removed? They were a part of the whole Broomell system, controling the amount of steam permitted in the radiator with their internal adjustment. If some have been removed and replaced with non-metered valves, steam could be finding its way into the return lines and causing problems.

This is one of my favorite vapor systems and I would like to help you restore it to as much of its original glory as possible. Please let us know what you find.

Best regards, Pat

GREG LAUER

BROOMELL VAPOR SYSTEM

We installed a new boiler for a customer and a friend of theirs tore out the original boiler
(THE RECIVER IS GONE).The return elbows say broomell.I have figured out it is a vapor system.Needless to say it doesn't heat well now.anyone have a idea on where i should install air vents? the vapor line and condensate line are loops back to the boiler.HELP!!

Steamhead (in transit)

The air in this system

comes out the rads and into the dry return. The receiver had an air pipe connected to it which ended up in the chimney, using the draft to help pull air from the system.

You need to vent the dry return. On this system I'd use nothing less than a Gorton #2 vent.

It will also help a lot to add vents to the ends of the steam mains. How long are they, and what pipe sizes? How much radiation is on the system?

jeff_51

there is a section in Dan's book

on brommell heatingd systems. They were a real cadillac system. I have only worked on one and once we got it set and the homeowner understood it ( me to by the way). it worked great. Yes venting is even more important in this system as has been mentioned. Get dans book