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Type of system

I'm not sure what type of steam heating system I have. There are supply and return pipes from the boiler, but the radiators have only one pipe. The radiators have air vents on the sides. Is this a one pipe system?

Comments

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,495
    single pipe

    That is a single pipe steam system.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • crash2009
    crash2009 Member Posts: 1,484
    Yes

    If the radiators had 2 pipes it would be called a two-pipe.  There are a couple different kinds of one-pipe though.  Counter flow and paralel flow, and sometimes a combination of the two.  Counterflow is where the steam travels in one direction and the condensate tavels in the opposite direction.  Paralel flow is where steam and condensate travel in the same direction.



    You said you have a supply and a return.  If the supply is downhill away from the boiler you have a paralel flow.  If the supply is uphill away from the boiler its counterflow.
  • BettyB
    BettyB Member Posts: 2
    Thanks

    Thanks for the info!
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