Testing Hoffman A-1 vent

bob young

BLOW THROUGH IT UPRIGHT . THEN UPSIDE DOWN. [ IT SHOULD LOCK ]

Jeff_133

Testing Hoffman A-1 vents

Is there a way to test a Hoffman A-1 vent for proper functionality, other than installing it in a radiator and waiting for the system to cycle?

Jeff_133

your test

do you mean it should be locked once you turn it upright again?

bob young

up=air ----down=none

Upright you can blow thru it. inverted , the float drops & it closes. can't blow thru it. fairly simple mode

Jeff_133

ok, got it

not trying to make this more difficult than it is... but... one thing i noticed is i had a Hoffman vent that shut when it warmed up, but then did not cycle on/off during the so-called "drop-away" so the radiator never was getting warm all the way through. i replaced the vent and that seemed to take care of the issue, but I need to test 15 more vents, and was wondering if there was a way to detect this, as it took me time to observe this...

bob young

start blowing lol

Jeff_133

that's pretty funny

lanceL

testing rad vents

I haven't done this but, having the same question, was thinking of extending my vent antler with a ball valve bushed to 1/8 to test them. Just my .02 Lance

The Boiler Dr.

I install a test station

at all my boilers to facilitate testing. It is simply amazing how many vents get condemned when the problem is elsewhere.

Jeff_133

interesting...

where would be the best spot on the boiler to install a test valve?

bob young

cut a tee into the header

The Boiler Dr.

I take mine

right off the top cross tee on the low water cut off.