Main Vents in Steam System

Phil Barden

I am replacing the two Main Vents in my home steam system.
One of them I have replaced which was a Vent-Rite #31.
The other vent is a Vent-Rite #37. I have not been able to find one at a plumbing supplier. Vent Rite doesn't show that one being listed as available. Does anyone know what the equivalent vent would be?

Steamhead (in transit)

How long are your steam mains

and what pipe size are they?

"Steamhead"

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Phil Barden

Main Vent

The Main with the #37 vent is about 12ft and the pipe is 1/4".

Steamhead (in transit)

I'd use

a Hoffman #4A on that one. How about the other main?

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Phil Barden

Main Vent

I was able to find the Vent Rite repalacement for the other Main. A #31. That is a 1/8" pipe. Thanks for the info.

Steamhead (in transit)

I think

I misread your original post. I was asking what length and pipe size the main itself is, rather than the connection for the vent. This determines what vent to use.

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Phil Barden

Main Vents

No, the error was mine.I misread your reply. The Mains are
2" pipe. The Main with the #37 vent is about 10' long. The vent has a 1/4" female fitting The Main with the #31 vent is about 12' long. This vent has a 1/8" male fitting
Thanks again.

Steamhead (in transit)

Then, if

when the boiler starts sending steam out to the mains, the mains take only a minute or two to fill with steam, your vent sizes are correct. If they take longer, you need more venting capacity. This helps keep fuel bills down.

The usual tappings for main vents are 1/2" to 3/4". But a large vertical convector-type vent will work too, on short mains like yours. The Gorton #6 vertical vent would be my choice here. It will directly replace your #31 and vent faster, and with a suitable 1/4"x1/8" bushing will replace the #37 assuming the #37 has the pipe connection on the bottom.

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Phil Barden

Main Vents

Thank you very much for the info. As you probably have determined, this is not my area of specialty so I am willing to take advise from someone who has the knowledge.
I will replace my vents with the Gorton #6 vent. One more question. How do you determine when it is that the boiler starts sending steam out to mains?

Steamhead (in transit)

Feel the pipe leaving the boiler

when it gets real hot.........

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