finding a trap

Jim_152

Have two baseboard heaters that the traps are not visable. I have a two pipe Moaut steam system. I'm guessing that the traps are under the floor, in the wall somewhere, or maybe there are no traps. The fact that all other radiators, baseboard heaters in my home have traps, I would think these two baseboard heaters would also have them?. The house was built in 1929. I have 17 radiators and 7 baseboard heaters. How would I reasonably find where these two traps described are?, or if there are any, for these two baseboard heaters, without pulling out my tools, and start cutting pieces of floor, walls etc. to find them.

Jim_152

additional information

In addition, I'm highly confident that I have located the return line from these two baseboard heaters. This return line is located in my basement (two floors below) This return line is much more hotter than another return line coming from one floor above (different room). This could lead me to beleive that either these traps do not exist, or they exist somewhere and have failed in the open position. (can staem traps fail in the open position)
Thanks for anyone's help

Daniel_3

Yes they can fail in the open position. This would cause hammertime.

Jim_152

Thanks for the info. Can you help me with my main issue?

ttekushan_3

Mouat Traps

Mouat traps don't fail. They are orificed devices with a p-trap kind of a thing. Look in the "library" and you'll find info.


I think the traps are gone. Perhaps orifice plates on the INLET side were substituted when baseboards were installed. If not, then install them. This should take care of the problem.

Save yourself the trouble of cutting things up. You probably won't find anything.

Link: Mouat Vapor heating, contributed by Gerry Gill

Low pressure is critical on these systems. You are using a vaporstat on this boiler, correct?

-Terry

P.S. Are you in the Cleveland area? Mouat-Squires was a local favorite.

Jim_152

Thanks for your input. I'm in West Akron. I already have this pdf file. Also had almost all my traps replaced this summer. Several outlet radiators were very hot. Now they are no longer very hot since the Mouat traps were replaced. Not sure about the vaporstat.

ttekushan_3

some of the mouat traps

were indeed thermostatic. But most were the loop seal type.

Perhaps this would be a good time to install traps on the baseboards so there's little possibility of steam hitting the other new traps from the return end. You can certainly install them in the basement if necessary. Just tell anyone who cares to ask that you did it that way to provide a cooling leg for the trap. They'll be impressed!

Again, low pressure is desirable.

-Terry

West Akron-- nice part of town, if I recall. I'm on Cleveland's west side.