2 pipe system- Photos

alanm

I have a 2 pipe system (3 story house)  that does not seem to be working adequately.

See photos :

1- view of one of the main (no vents on any of the end of mains in basement)

2. View of boiler piping (see green vent which is on return piping)

3.Another view of piping (pipe to the right only feeds 3 radiators  while pipe on the left does rest of house)

4. View of piping- pipe on right bottom is the return and he pipe above it is the one heating only 3 radiators. Pipe going to the left runs the perimeter of the house doing all other radiators



Any suggestions or anything seen ?

Dave in QCA

Adequately?

When you say it is not working adequately, can you be a little more specific?

 

There should be big vents at the ends of each of your steam mains.  It is not necessarily bad that one main is large and one is smaller.  It looks like they may be difference pipe sizes, but are both connect by copper piping that is the same size.  Copper does not work well for steam, and the connections should be at least as large as the header, or the steam main, whichever is the smaller.  You just don't want to create a restriction at that point.



You say that the one Hoffman vent is on the dry return line coming from the radiator returns.  Is this for the whole system, i.e., from both mains?  If not, where is the other dry return?  For venting the returns, the hoffman 75 is just fine, but it appears that your entire system may be venting through the radiators and then to this vent.  You will acheive much more even steam distribution if you add ample vents to the ends of your steam mains. 



Also, since you have a 3 story house, it may be necessary to add vents to the tops of the risers.  Every system behaves a little differently, so it may work fine without the riser vents.  I would wait and see after the rest of the issues are worked out.



Please provide us with more information.  Also, a picture of a few of your radiators showing a close up of the trap and the inlet would be helpful too.

Rod

2 Pipe System

Hi-  I took one of your pictures and labeled it so the piping can be referred to by names and letters.   Check the diagram and let us know if in fact Return "A" is the return for Main "A".

So we know more about your system perhaps you can give us a bit more info.

Questions:

1.How many radiators are there on Main"A"?

2. Does Main "B" have a return pipe? (I couldn't see one in the picture)

3. Does Main "B" have a Main Vent?

4 How many radiators are there on Main "B" ?

5. What are the problems you've been experiencing with your system and which Main ("A"or "B") do you feel  is connected with the problem?

Also could you post a picture of a radiator connected to Main "A" and another picture of a radiator connected to Main "B". (I'm interested in the vents and piping connections.)

- Rod

Al Letellier_21

steam system performance

Looks like the copper bandit has been hard at work again.....guess the installer left his threading gear home the day he installed your boiler, huh !!

You didn't mention what kind of issues you were having with the system and the photos don't show enough of the system to detail the layout but it look more like a single pipe from these angles. Is that vent working?? It may be the place to start looking for operational issues. IF the return at that point is slow in heating up on a call, and some or the rads get hot first, you have a venting issue.

Would need more info to help you out any further