Richardson Vapor System

Palmhal

I have a 1922 Richardson  vapor system which has performed flawlessly . I had to change the boiler 6 yrs ago to a Weil steam boiler and lost the vapor feature due to ignorance of the contractor. The system still performed well until  the air expeller/vacume valve on the return started to spew condensate a few weeks ago. I changed it to a Gorton air valve which seems to work, although at a pressure sometimes. Question- Is the old Richardson air expeller valve available? Can they be repaired? What would I have to do to convert back to vapor? Just add a vaporstat?

Jamie Hall

Maybe and yes

I don't know about the Richardson air expeller, but I would expect that 'most any really good vent (e.g. the big Gortons) would work fine.  As to going back to vapour, unless your contractor messed around somewhere besides right around the boiler, yes, you will need a vapourstat.  The only other thing to check is that the water level in the new boiler should be very nearly the same as the level in the original boiler.  Otherwise some of the water loops, way out at the ends of the system, may be dry, allowing steam to pass from the steam lines to the returns.



If the Gorton you put in seems to be at a pressure, the solution may simply be... add another one or two at the same location.