2 pipe steam system with steam traps some radiator won't heat

Steamhead (in transit)

we definitely need more information. But my gut is telling me that with 14 average-sized radiators, the boiler is almost certainly undersized. Do an EDR count to be sure, but I bet that's what you find. The cure is a new boiler, properly sized. Check out the Burnham Mega-Steam boilers, these are the best residential steamers currently available.

This type of steam system is called "Vapor" since it was designed to work on pressures of only a few ounces. Vapor was the Cadillac of heating back in the day, and is still one of the best out there. When you get this one running properly, it will work well and efficiently.

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Gp. Gallo

2 pipe steam system with steam traps some radiator won't heat

I was call in on a old heating system 2 pipe with steam trap one side of the house the radiator won't heat i took the steam trap apart and turn up the boiler and did not get any steam out the radiator. there are 13 radiator in the house and only 4 will not heat, I noticed that there are 4 quick vent at the end of the mains. The owner said the former plumber spent house balancing the system. Is this posible. and can i do it. The house was built in 1937. The owner had the boiler changed it has 283 sq output. could the boiler be to small to make enough steam for all those radiators.
George Gallo

Brad White

More information needed, George

As to the 283 EDR boiler rating, we would have to know the connected radiation on the entire system and the piping condition (insulation). A lot of bare pipe would eat into your "1.33" I=B=R factor.

If the boiler were undersized, you might get "some" steam to those radiators, just not enough to make them "glow"; hard to tell from here of course. Also those radiators would tend to be more remote than any others; is that the case? Might they be positively isolated by an undiscovered valve?

Was the drop in performance coincident with the boiler replacement? What was done at the near-boiler piping if this was the case?

At what pressure does the system operate?

What is the trap condition at all of the under-performing radiators versus the one (I assume the only one) you dealt with?

Checking this out could go in a number of directions. I am sure others will have far more ideas but if you could post more information, maybe a photo or two, that would help a lot.