New Home / No Main Air Vents / High Bills / HELP

Terry in NJ

Looks like you have a contact now. I was trying to respect the sponsors of the forum by not posting a name. I've also learned from the forum that I may have more issues with the system than the plumber I used brought to my attention. So I am not sure he noticed it or not.

You should take some pictures of the system and ends of the mains, maybe someone will see something you do not. Good luck.

NShak

New Owner / No Main Air Vents / High Heating Bills

New to the forum; greetings to all.

Bought an 80+ yr old home with 1 pipe steam heating system.

We are very frugal about our temperature settings, but our first bill was $280 and the second bill was $330, and it hasn't even been that cold out!!! Bought "We Got Steam Heat...". No matter where I look, I can't find any main air vents on the main or return pipes. NONE. The return pipes look as though they were replaced at some point, because they're copper (I assume they were originally steel).

Is it possible the pipes were replaced and nobody put in any main air vents? Also when the gas burner/boiler fires, after 30+ minutes some of the baseboards start hissing like snakes!!! Is it possible that since there are no main air vents, that the baseboard air vents are acting like main air vents? If yes, then I assume this would make the entire system very inefficient and thus my high heating bills.

I've only read 60 pages so far, so this could all be a stretch. Any advice out there? Anyone know a reliable/affordable steam guy/gal in Millburn, NJ to look at my system?

Terry in NJ

it took me a while to find my main vents,

they were at the "turn" behind sheetrocked walls. Here is a link to a picture of mine

http://forums.invision.net/Attachment.cfm?IMG_1840.JPG&CFApp=2&Attachment_ID=32106

I'm a homeowner in the Millburn area too. We had terrible noise too until we had some servicing done. Still waiting for this month's gas bill to see if the costs come down.

NShak

Are you happy with the service you received?
Can you give me the reference?

Do you also have a 1 pipe system?

JohnNY

I don't usually plug my company here, but....

...my shop in New Jersey has been servicing Millburn and the surrounding area for several years.

We recently moved from Maplewood to a larger shop in Orange.

We would be happy to come and take a look at your system and talk about your concerns.

The link at the bottom of this page refers to our New York address, but our offices are on Valley St, in Orange.

Please click through to contacts at:

www.GatewayPlumbing.com</>




To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Brad White

Well, knowing that

then *I* will plug Gateway P&H with John and his crew. They serve your area? I would give them a call. I have spoken with John- he knows his stuff and they love what they do.

Dale

vents

> New to the forum; greetings to all.

>

> Bought an

> 80+ yr old home with 1 pipe steam heating system.

> We are very frugal about our temperature

> settings, but our first bill was $280 and the

> second bill was $330, and it hasn't even been

> that cold out!!! Bought "We Got Steam Heat...".

> No matter where I look, I can't find any main air

> vents on the main or return pipes. NONE. The

> return pipes look as though they were replaced at

> some point, because they're copper (I assume they

> were originally steel).

>

> Is it possible the

> pipes were replaced and nobody put in any main

> air vents? Also when the gas burner/boiler

> fires, after 30+ minutes some of the baseboards

> start hissing like snakes!!! Is it possible that

> since there are no main air vents, that the

> baseboard air vents are acting like main air

> vents? If yes, then I assume this would make the

> entire system very inefficient and thus my high

> heating bills.

>

> I've only read 60 pages so

> far, so this could all be a stretch. Any advice

> out there? Anyone know a reliable/affordable

> steam guy/gal in Millburn, NJ to look at my

> system?



Key is how quick do the mains heat( get hot) with the burner on? Air can't get out steam can't get in and you waste fuel. Adding main vents is a good start. A pro will check the system piping for pitch to make sure the new vents last. Bad rad hissing noise is one of the signs of bad main venting. Rads do NOT need to hiss.

bruhl_2

NShak, you are one lucky guy. Professional help is close at hand, and with the bonus of a confirmation from Brad White. It doesn't get any better than that. Do yourself a favor, call John, you won't go wrong.
bruhl

JR_10

Looking for steam pro

in/services Edison Twp area? Any help would be appreciated?