Old residential steam heat system

Mark Boertman

My daughter just bought a house with old steam pipes. The pipes in the entire house were drained to prevent splitting during freezing weather. However the steam system had a U shaped piece that held water and has now split. I have attached a picture of the fitting. Does anyone know if I can just fabricate a replacement from common fittings to replace the broken one? Any help is appreciated.

gerry gill

is that the bottom

of a hoffman company differential loop?

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Steamhead (in transit)

Hoffman Differential Loop

Yes, that looks like one. Moment of silence....

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Steamhead (in transit)

No, it cannot be replaced

They stopped making them years ago. It's job was to put the water back into the boiler when the pressure got too high. Check out the "Library" section of this site on Hoffman Loops.

But a Vaporstat control can be added to your boiler to keep the pressure low...below 14 oz/in2, once the old loop is removed by a good steam man.

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Steamhead (in transit)

Gordo's right

what your daughter has there is a Hoffman "Controlled Heat" Vapor system. The part that froze is the "Differential Loop". This version of the Controlled Heat system would have been installed in the mid to late 1920s.

This system was designed to run at a maximum of 8 ounces pressure, so the Vaporstat is necessary once the Loop is removed. Get the Vaporstat model that maxes out at 1 PSI.

Vapor was the Cadillac of heating in the old days and is still one of the best systems out there. This Hoffman system will give many years of efficient comfort if taken care of properly.

Where are you located? If you're in the Baltimore area, call us.

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