2 pipe steam installation

Steamhead (in transit)

with the orifices cast into the convector elements. This type of system should NOT have vents at the individual convectors, but it should have a Vaporstat to keep the system pressure below 1 pound.

It should have a large main vent on the steam main and a smaller one on the dry return. Measure the length and diameter of the steam main and we can tell you what it needs.


Not sure why the vacuum breaker is there unless it's actually an air vent that can hold a vacuum. These vacuum-holding vents worked great with coal but not well with oil or gas. They should be replaced with standard vents.

The drip legs from both the steam main and dry return should drop below the waterline before tying together. If this isn't done, it will affect steam distribution and could cause steam to leak out of a bad dry return vent.

If the boiler has a hole above the waterline, the usual cause is the system was taking on a lot of make-up water. On that type of system a leaking air vent is the most probable cause. The new boiler should have a water feeder with a counter such as the Hydrolevel VXT, which will display the amount of water fed to the system.

Some copper-pipe manufacturers advocated piping Vapor systems in copper, but I've never actually seen one put in this way from the get-go. Make absolutely sure you don't have any leaky solder joints.

And post some pictures if you can!

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=367&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"</A>

Bob Chapman

2 pipe steam installation

I have a two pipe steam system with steel convectors, with no thermostatic traps and no air vents anywhere, but a vacuum breaker on a dry return before a drip leg and a check valve in the wet return.
The boiler is about 10 years old and piped in black pipe, but the supply pipe along the ceiling is all copper with no insulation on it. The homeowners are both retired and said the system ran very quietly with no water hammer. I've sized up the existing radiation and am wondering wheather I should install main air vents on the system or leave it the way it is?
The copper mains look like they were installed new in the 1940's, when the house was built and the homeowners say there was never any insulation on it when they bought the house 25 years ago.
The existing gas boiler only lasted about 10 years and the contractor thinks its got a hole above the water line, all pipes are exposed and no leaks are apparent-they have a 67 L.W.C.O. and a 101 feeder but no water meter.
ANY COMMENTS.

Mad Dog_2

Yeah Bob...that \"vacuum breaker\" is likely a

vacuum vent...can you read brand name off of it? Hoffman made them.... I think they still do. In any case, ALL steam systems need air vents - somewhere...and those vents don;t serve any purpose any longer. Standard Hoffman or Gorton main vents are in order. Hey Bob, didn't we meet at the plumbers picnic last week? Mad Dog

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