Take offs looped together

dave72

 Should two take offs out of the header loop aroud the basement and eventually join?  The two farthest radiators from the boiler don't get hot and would be easy to isolate the two take offs so they have the same load.My house is two pipe with no main vents and only vents on the radiators.I've been talking to a contractor to install main vents so I can get rid of the raditor vents.

Steamhead

What variety of 2-pipe is this?

are there traps on the radiator return connections? Post some pics if you're not sure.

dave72

take off loop

yes,most radiators have the old style traps.

Steamhead

Those aren't traps

they are water-seal units. This is either a Broomell, Vapor Engineering Co or Vapor Regulator Co system. It should NOT have any air vents on the radiators.



The air on these systems was vented into the dry (overhead) return lines and out thru the top of a regulator unit at the boiler. From there it went into the chimney, where the draft would help pull air from the system. There was a condenser such as a ceiling radiator or long pipe before the chimney connection to keep steam from getting that far. I bet some knucklehead took the regulator or condenser out and didn't add main vents there.



if you have a copy of Dan's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" you will find all three of these systems therein.



I've seen similar systems where the steam mains were looped together, but that's not the best way. The end of each steam main should drip to a wet return, unless they were run counterflow (sloping up from the boiler) which I've also seen on Broomells.



You need a Steam Man- where are you located?