Need for vents on steam radiators?

Kentucky_Steam

Old house (100 yrs) and 2-pipe, Gas-fired steam system with radiators.  We added to the house about 8 years back and added radiators in the new area.  Old radiators, but they work well.  We put vents on each of them.  These radiators (the vents) hiss at the beginning of cycle, then get quiet as the radiators get hot, which is fairly quickly.  We have only 1 other radiator in the house with a vent.  That vent was added 15-20 years ago to "help" a radiator that had always been slow to get hot... it helped.

Among the radiators without vents, there are some that heat quickly and do well and some that are "slow" and just get warm.

<span style="text-decoration:underline;">My question:</span>  Should there be vents like these on <strong>each</strong> radiator... or perhaps the "slow" & warm ones?

One other note-->We replaced our original Ideal Red-Flash (American Rad. Co.) boiler in October 2009, with a Weil-Mclain EG-75.  We believe that old boiler to be original, it was originally coal-fired, but had Iron-Fireman gas burner installed in late 40s or early '50s.

Unknown

2 Pipe System

Actually in a well running two pipe system you shouldn't have vents are your radiators. This is /was usually done as a "mickey mouse fix" for a bad steam trap. Your best bet is to fix your steam traps as this should make your steam system a lot more efficient and save fuel. If you don't already have them I'd highly recommend you get a couple of books available in the shop on this site.  "We Got Steam Heat" http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/61/We-Got-Steam-Heat-A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Peaceful-Coexistence

and "The Lost Art of Steam Heating"    http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/68/Lost-Art-Of-Steam-Heating

These books are easy humorous reading and written so the homeowner can understand them.After a few evenings reading you will know a lot more about your steam system and then be in the position to decide what is need to get it fixed.  Rebuild kits are available for steam traps. One of the first things you want to do it check your main vents. Do you know where you main vents are located? I've attached a schematic of a typical 2 pipe steam system. There are variation to this so don't be surprised if you run across something a bit different. Post some pictures of you system and we 'll do  our best to help you.

- Rod

nicholas bonham-carter

why you should not

this link explains it all--nbc

[url=http://www.gwgillplumbingandheating.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=260]http://www.gwgillplumbingandheating.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=260