what's the long term prognosis for an old vapor/vacuum system?

niftyc_2

I have a homeowner with a 1906 KMC vapor/vacuum system in my house I've bee posting a lot about lately. (Here is a flickr photoset: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niftyc/sets/72157608801023873/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/niftyc/sets/72157608801023873/</a> ). Thanks to everyone for your help so far. Here is my big question.



Now that there is no vacuum in the system I basically have a one-pipe system with a complicated set of narrow air vent pipes where the air vents would normally go. A big disadvantage is that these vent lines can't be adjusted in any way, as there is only one main vent in the basement.



What is the long-term prognosis for such a system? When you find one do you recommend that the homeowner convert it to one pipe by adding vents and capping the air return lines?



I notice that in my house someone has attempted to add F&T traps at every air line -- probably to replace some sort of restrictor. This seems like a complicated and expensive way to do venting, and it still isn't adjustable.



Is there a best practice between these two options? I'm not sure if I should be concentrating on maintaining the F&T traps or if I should try to replace them with vents and convert to a one-pipe system.



I generally like the basement venting but I see there are some disadvantages (e.g., can't balance the system since nothing is adjustable). I have two contractors and one wants to switch to one pipe with vents while the other wants to maintain the F&T traps. I'm not sure how to decide!



Christian