Webster 0023

Waz

I have a job 2 pipe system that has a webster 0023 vent trap the customer called saying they had to fill the system everyday with water. I went around check all of the traps one was bad i pulled the trap apart nothing inside so that was not causing the low water. when i returned to fix the trap they told me there was condensation in the basement here the steam coming from the webster 0023 had condensed all over everything. Is there anything i should check or should i change out the old webster and be fine?

Steamhead

If the trap had no element in it

I'd say you found the problem. The 0023 does not close against steam, so a trap with a missing element would let steam into the dry return where it would escape out the 0023. Fix the trap, and make sure all the other traps have working elements. 

Waz

re

Well the problem just started and the trap has been empty for the past 40 years. any suggestions?

Waz

Suggestions?

Any one have any suggestions as to what could be causing these problems besides having one open trap that has been open with no problems for the past 40 years?

Steamhead

Check the end-of-main traps

Webster systems almost always have either F&T traps on the ends of the steam mains, or radiator traps piped between the steam mains and the dry returns. Sometimes you have to look wayyyyyyy up in the ceiling to find them. If one of these is bad, it can let steam into the dry return where it will escape from the 0023.



If the system has a Boiler Return Trap, check that too. If the internal valves in the BRT are leaking, steam can pass thru it and enter the dry return. If you find the BRT is bad, you can remove it, take the flappers out of the check valves on the return piping and install a 0-16-ounce Vaporstat. The Vaporstat keeps water from backing up into the returns due to the boiler pressure being too high, so you won't need the BRT to pump it back.