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old main air vents

Was wondering if anyone knew what these valves were and there purpose. They are located at the end of 2 seperate horizontal 2 inch boiler feed pipes. I thought they were main air vents, but they dont make any noise. Are they broke? I have a two pipe system with steam traps at every radiator. All the radiators get hot but it takes quite a long time. 1 hour 20 minutes. Any help would be appreciated

Comments

  • 2 Pipe Main Vents

    One a two pipe system there are two major pipes (mains) which run in parallel pairs. One is the steam main that supplies the steam to each radiator. It's easy to tell the steam main as the piping from the steam main is connected to the inlet side of the radiator (The one with the shut off valve)  The second major pipe is the Return main which carries away the condensate from each radiator. The return main is connected to each radiator by the pipe leading down from each radiator trap.



    Main vents - There are a couple of standard configurations. There maybe a main vent on the end of your steam main before it drops down below the water line level of the boiler into the Wet Return  As an alternative there maybe no main vent at the end of this steam main but instead a pipe  connecting  from the Steam Main to the Return Main with a special trap (F&T trap ="Float" & Thermostatic)  located on this pipe.



    In both cases the Return Main will have a main vent and this is usually located like those in your picture just before the pipe drops down into the wet return.



    There maybe more than one pair of mains connected to your boiler. I've attached a picture of the typical two pipe system with has the F&T trap configuration.

    Your heating times seem quite excessive so I would consider the first thing to do would be replace you main vent (s) .  You might want to check the "Find A Professional" at the top of this page  and see if there is a steam pro located near you.

    - Rod
  • antique air vents

    those are old air vents and should be testable by taking them off and blowing through them. if they are plugged, a soak in soapy water or vinegar might bring them back to life. if not then it's time for some new gortons!

    when you reinstall them, it would be best to put them on antlers to protect them against water-hammer. your time to steam arrival should be shortened dramatically, after this. right now you are probably venting the system with your wallet, and afterwards you will be letting the air leave on its own accord.--nbc
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited December 2009
    Those are Trane vacuum vents

    which may or may not be still working.



    You say these are at the ends of the boiler feed pipes- do you mean the steam pipes that deliver the steam from the boiler to the radiators? If so, measure the length and diameter of both mains and we can tell you what you need to replace them.



    Are there vents on the overhead ("dry") return lines too? There should be.....
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • fjcruiser105
    fjcruiser105 Member Posts: 29
    Pipe size

    Those pipes do run the length of the house and feed each radiator. It is 2 inches in diameter and run a total of 50 feet from the boiler to the end. The pipes that are connected to the bottom of the tees are 1 1/4 in diameter and run down to the floor and back to the boiler. The diagram you sent me looks exactly what I have, except for the ends where my valves branch up off the tees. Thanks for your help. I'll wait for your info on the valves I would need to replace these.
  • fjcruiser105
    fjcruiser105 Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2009
    Additional info

    This is an addition to my last post. I looked at the diagram again and see another difference. The return lines from each radiator, the steam trap side go into 1 inch lines that return to my boiler above the water level,t his has a vent at the end that blows from the start of the boiler firing to about 10 minutes after the boiler has shut down. While the 1 1/4 line is below the water level, they both meet up at the boiler, dont know if that makes a difference.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited December 2009
    For a 50-foot, 2" steam main

    vent it with one Gorton #2 vent. If there are two such steam mins, vent them both with this vent.



    Your system probably doesn't have that F&T trap at the end of the steam main. In the diagram, the F&T vents the air and drains the water from the steam main, discharging both into the dry return.



    On your system, both the steam main (larger of the two overhead mains) and the dry return (smaller one) will both have air vents where the 1-1/4" pipes drop toward the floor. The system will heat more evenly if the dry return vent is smaller than the steam main vent. Try a Gorton #1 on the return.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
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