1/8" hole for gorton#2

STEAM DOCTOR

Good evening. According to Gerry's chart on air vent capacities a gorton #2 vents approximately the same amount of air as an open 1/8" pipe. Accordingly, when drilling and tapping in order to install a gorton # 2, would it be necessary to tap a hole larger then 1/8"?  Thanks

Brad White

A Gorton #2

requires a 1/2" coupling or fitting.  It has a 1/2" MPT stem.



The parallels between a 1/8" pipe and the venting rate of a Gorton #2 is just incidental. It is equally odd, but the Gorton #1 has a stem tapped for a 1/2" nipple (FPT on the Gorton) or a 3/4" coupling or fitting (MPT on the Gorton), yet vents about one-third the rate of the Gorton #2.



Personally, I would not just tap into a main, if that is what you are thinking, but elevate the Gorton on a nipple well above the main and held back from an elbow as per good practice. But you knew that.

STEAM DOCTOR

1/8"

Thanks Brad. What I typically do when tapping the main for the Gorton#2 is to drill and tap a 1/8" hole and use a short 1/8" nipple/ a 1/2"-1/8" bushing, a 1/2" nipple etc. As you mention i always offset. I just wanted to make sure that the 1/8" hole was adequate

Brad White

My ideal

is a 3/4" or larger riser to a tee and either a nipple-tee-plug on each side or a street elbow on each side, to form an antler or menorah. Same principle as a steam riser, I want to keep jetting water up away from my precious Gortons.   We agree on offsets, but I also want to have a path for any moisture to get back down to the main and return.



With a 1/8" tapping, I would be afraid of water jetting up under velocity, the vent being the end-game as far as moving steam is concerned.  The other thing I would be concerned about is the relatively small opening being plugged, it being off the main or that condensate flows down as steam is coming in.



But that is just my preference.