Vulcan Steam Trap

Diamond_Jim

I Have A Job In A School For A New Boiler Installation. The Steam System There Is Amazing. Each Rad Has What I Could Only Assume To Be Some Form Of A Steam Trap. There Is A 3/4' On The Supply On Top And 1/2" On The Opposite Side Return. There Are No Vacuum Or Condensate Pumps On The Job. When I Opened The Vulcan Steam Trap To Look At It There Was Nothing More Then What Looks Like A Check Valve Gate Inside. Be For I Tackle This Job I Want To Know What I'm In For. I Can Not Find Any Info On These Vulcan Valves And I'm Kind Of Hopping A "Dead Man" Is Still Out There With Some Knowledge On These Valves. Thanks For Any Info That Any One May Have. Jim

moneypitfeeder

take a look at the cover of the traps

Are there any inscriptions, numbers etc on the cap of the traps? They are probably cover by layers of paint, but could be helpful to locate info about the traps. Specifically which Vulcan was the manufacturer, seemed to be a popular name from a quick google search. If a state is listed that helps tremendously to narrow that part down. Just to clarify these are located on the return side of the radiators opposite the supply valve correct?



What is your goal for the traps on the system? Are you testing the traps to see if they are working, or just replacing?



Seems contrary to a lot of advice I've seen, but all the traps in my house made circa 1915-1925 are still working as they should as long as the pressure on my boiler is under 1 psi.



Lastly, can you post pics of them?

Steamhead

Sure it's not a Kriebel system?

This system was marketed by the Vapor-Vacuum Heating Company, of Philadelphia, and has an emblem that looks a bit like it might be Vulcan, or Van Halen. The return elbows use little check valves like you describe.



Take some pics and post them here to be sure.