Steam stumper...

kcopp

Looked at a 3 unit apt today... 1 each floor. 1 steam boiler. T-stat in the bottom unit. strange oddity is that the 1st floor apt does not get heat ... all 4 rads cold but the risers to the 2nd and 3rd  are piping hot. I replaced the main vents a while back and can hear them panting. I have a varivalve in the back bathroom rad and still no change.... strange thing is that the riser to the 2nd and 3rd floor and just inches away from the 1st floor rads.. all piping is insulated. ty,kpc

Dave in QCA

questions

1 pipe or 2 pipe?  What is the rated capacity and firing rate of the boiler?  What is the EDR of the connected radiation.  What type of main vents.  What type of radiator vents?  How is the piping arranged? 

It's really hard to comment on your system without knowing the above items.

kcopp

lets see...

1 pipe , paralell pipe. Near boiler piping is ok. 1 bull head tee but not real bad. 2 Gorton #1 on each main. the old ones were plugged. Rad vents are various. some gorton D upstairs. the problem floor has 1 varivalve, 1 ventrite. edr is around 500 ft2.

Mark Eatherton

Panting....

Not generating enough steam pressure.



Boiler underfired or leaking steam out of a section into the combustion chamber?



ME

nicholas bonham-carter

panting radiators

either they are saying "peel me a grape", or the panting in those rads could be indicating uninsulated piping.

there could also be a problem with the relationship of venting capacity between the radiator vents, and the main vents. if your main vents are not up to the job, then all the air flow will try to escape [aided by the gas company at great expense] by way of the radiator vents. any water being carried along can end up in the vent, and close it with the internal float. so no venting there = no steam coming up!.

try to fire the boiler, with an assistant whose hand is on the switch for quick turning off. take off the vent, while it is off, and then switch it on. i bet you will see steam in those rads. make sure not to allow the steam to flow out the vent tapping for more than a few seconds as it can remove all the wallpaper in minutes!--nbc

Charlie from wmass

The Gorton D's are winning the battle

try c's or smaller up stairs and CHECK for a leak in the boiler. Steam is lazy, remember that!.

Dave in QCA

And like Herding Cats!

Yes, steam is lazy, and has a mind of its own!  It goes where it wants to, not necessarily where you want it to.  Kinda like trying to herd cats.  They don't care what you want.  They're lazy and they go where they want!

kcopp

thanks...

I will keep at it. The big rad in the living room is a bit better w/ the varivalve.