One Pipe Steam heat main vents

Phil_17

Hello. I am replacing my main steam vents in the basement for the winter. I went to the plumbing supply store and they gave me a gorton. is this a good brand or should do you recommend something else.

additionally since this vent is to release steam, is it safe to have the opening pointed towards my foundation wall? or face it the other way where my wires are running?

David Nadle

Gortons are very popular here. And the vent should release only the air, not the steam. If you see steam or moisture coming out it's definitely time to replace the vent.

I'm not an expert but I believe you don't have to be concerned about which way the opening is pointed.

Brad White_200

Gortons

tend to have the highest venting capacities and are a staple/default for me, but regardless, I try to tune my vents to the demand such that the system heats up evenly.

I try to have the vent opening where I can see it. They do vent "only air" and shut upon seeing steam when working normally. Sometimes they do emit vapor when not working normally and I want to know that before the Rembrandt on the wall behind my vent sees that.

Big Ed_4

With My Luck......

.....I would be up there near the vent working on something else and the main vent goes bad.

Once you get a steam burn you don't take any chances. Me I turn them away from from damage or danger.

Phil_17

My main is right on the edge of the pipe when it turns. The problem is the thing is all rusted out and im having a hard time getting it out. I tried for two days and plenty of WD-40.
Any suggestions before i enlist professional help?

i tried pipe wrench, crescent wrenches. the thing wont budge. I being that it is above the ceiling panels and close to foundation wall, i have very limited room to operate which makes it even tougher.

Are there any special tools i can use?Thanks EVERYONE!

Brad White_200

Leverage

Archimedes aside, you just need a place to stand...or call a pro. It is all leverage, grip and swing clearances. I do not want you to break anything and make an irreversible decision.

That vent location from what you describe, probably allowed that vent to last four steam cycles. Do hold it back about 15 inches, I am guessing a 12-inch long nipple between the end elbow and the tee holding the vent is what makes that a 15-inch dimension more or less.

Phil_17

RIght now it is on the elbow. It is bell shaped with a nipple at the op of the nipple.
At its current location, am i losing a lot of efficiency?

i dont want to move it since all piping is behind walls and i have to take down the wall to move the location of the main air valve

please advise.

Brad White_200

Lost efficiency

Hi Janis

The loss is that the air cannot get out of the way so your boiler (a pressure producer and little more) cannot complete it's chosen profession.

A mis-applied vent in that location either a) clogs open and spits steam and water all over the place or, b) clogs closed and might as well be a plug. That location is where a slug of condensate and whatever solids it picks up will slam into the end of the line and up into the vent.

If you DO get that freed, you have a shot at making a back-pass pipe arrangement. Basically a nipple and elbow with the pipe passing back over the main. It could buy you some protection from a full charge of condensate, instead of cutting in a proper tee and vent location.

No guarantee though, just a shortcut absent doing it the right way.

Phil_17

Thanks Brad. I will contact a pro to see what he can do for me.

Phil_17

Thanks Brad. I will contact a pro to see what he can do for me.

Brad White_200

Or, she