What kind of steam system do I have?

danl

Hi,
I have found a lot of very useful information about steam systems on this site. I was hoping that someone could tell me what the industry calls the steam system in my house.
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I have heard it called a Steam Vapor, Vaporstat, and Steam Pressure. If I search for these terms on the web, I really don't find anything that applies to my house.
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I have a large container next to the boiler (see attached photo) which is supposed to be the condenser for the system where all of the radiator returns feed into. My radiators have in and out pipes. The IN is on the top of one side, the out is on the bottom of the opposite side.
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Supposedly the system works by lowering the pressure in the system creating a vacuum which allows the steam to boil and heat my house at 165 degress rather than 212.
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My real problem is that supporting the system from my oil company is difficult. If I even knew what to call the thing, it would be a great help to me.
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Thanks,
Dan

Steamhead (in transit)

Can't see the name on it

but it looks like a Trane Direct Return Trap. This means you probably have a Trane Vapor system.

You can read about this unit and system here:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/pdfs/26.pdf

We have lots of Trane Vapor systems here in Baltimore. They don't run in vacuum anymore- this doesn't work well on oil or gas. But it should be able to distribute steam on maybe an ounce of pressure, and should never need more then 8 ounces pressure on the coldest night of the year. We have Tranes with low-pressure gauges and low-pressure controls (Vaporstats) on them that show this.

The D.R.T. is basically a pressure-powered pump. If the boiler pressure gets too high, returning water flows up into the DRT, filling it. When it's full, an internal float opens a valve, allowing steam into the unit, and the water is pushed into the boiler.

You should also find a large vent at the end of each steam main, and one or more vents on the dry (overhead) return lines.

Vapor was the Cadillac of heating in the old days. It is still one of the best systems out there. With proper care, your Trane should give you years of efficient comfort.

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Al Corelli_2

D.R.Ts

I've done four boiler replacements with these in the system lately.

It seem that I'll go a year or so without seeing one, then WHAM, I get a bunch of them.

These things still work great and they've been installed forever.

Keep the pressure LOW.

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