Steam Expert Covering East Greenwich?

jwesevich

Hi All,

We just bought a house in Rhode Island, and while the system checked out on the inspection, it's clear nobody has really touched it in years, and I really need someone who can come in and give us a thorough review.  It's a two-pipe steam system, and in addition to rads, we just discovered the sunroom has 3 of these:

<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/jeff_w_47/Spring%20St/heat_02.jpg" alt="" />



<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/jeff_w_47/Spring%20St/heat_03-1.jpg" alt="" />

Also some Dunham 8A Traps:



<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/jeff_w_47/Spring%20St/heat_002.jpg" alt="" />



<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/jeff_w_47/Spring%20St/heat_001.jpg" alt="" />

thanks!

jeff

Rod

Steam Pro Rhode Island

Hi Jeff-

   Go to the "Find a Contractor" button at the top of this page. Scroll down past the zip code (It sometimes isn't reliable) to the States and pick Rhode Island. There are a couple of good steam pros listed there. 

Looking at your pictures it looks like you have a very nice system and a good steam pro should be able to tune it up for you so that your getting maximum efficiency. Insulating the steam pipes would add to that too.

 I might also mention that there are some very good books on steam heating available  in the "Shop" section of this website. I would recommend "We Got Steam Heat!"

http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/61/We-Got-Steam-Heat-A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Peaceful-Coexistence

Good luck with your new house!

- Rod

Steamhead

You have a Dunham Return system

which is a pretty standard Vapor system. It's covered in chapter 15 of "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" available in the online store on this site. Vapor was the Cadillac of heating in the old days and is still one of the best systems out there today.



The upper of the two "cast-iron hams" is the main air vent for the system. The lower is a Return Trap, which makes sure the water can get back to the boiler if its pressure gets above a certain level, usually a pound or so.



The boiler looks like it was installed by the typical knucklehead. All the piping is 2-inch. The header and the takeoff going to the steam main should be 3-inch on this system. This will make sure the steam is dry (no water carried along with the steam). At least they didn't use copper on the steam piping. I've attached a pic of a boiler piped the way it ought to be.



Not sure if there is an equalizer or Hartford Loop on this boiler- maybe you could post a pic taken from the right side of the boiler, also of the piping in the rear of it.



Those recessed convectors don't have the thermal mass that cast-iron radiators do. You might find these rooms go cold more quickly as a result, after the boiler shuts off.



Try the Find a Contractor page of this site to locate a Steam Man near you.

jwesevich

Thanks!

Thanks for the quick, informative replies guys!



jeff