Need Questions Answered

Meyer1120

Hello everyone, so I recently bought the steamy deal and I have been reading all the info available. So today I have been busy installing insulation on ALL of the pipes in my system. When we bought the house the VA required that we remove the asbestos insulation (at the time I thought great, but as winter came I realized that if it was there to begin with it probably needed to be there). So while I have been doing this I figured I would take a look at the main vents (which there are three) they seem to be in good condition, but I want to replace them just to be on the safe side. They are Hoffman No. 74, where is the best place to purchase these? I have noticed that they are priced differently all over the internet. Also what is the best shim to use to "fall" the radiators correctly? I purchased the standard wood ones today as well as the composite type. Lastly should I clean the radiator vents or should I just buy new ones? The house is 90 years old and the past 6 years it has been a rental property and things weren't taken care of correctly, so to replace or clean that is the question. Any help would be great. Also I can not express how wonderful these books are to read.

nicholas bonham-carter

Repost in the steam section for more replies

Are you certain of the Hoffman number (75). They are good vents, but gorton #2's are more capacious. Keep the old ones on there as well unless they fail the blow test. Pex supply.com is the supplier I would use. Keep the old radiator vents until you know they have problems, as they do very little of the venting, and are usually working.

Insulation is certainly needed, but take some pictures of the piping before you cover it up.

Check your pressure with a 0-3psi low-pressure gauge (gauge store.com).

Quarters will serve well enough to pitch your radiators towards the valve, verified with a level.

Check your lwco, and see if it cuts off the burner.--NBC

Steamhead

The Hoffman #74

is a high-pressure unit heater vent. Its venting port is too small to work on your system.



Measure the length and diameter of your steam mains and we can tell you what you need.

Meyer1120

More questions from the answers

To nicholas bonham-carter: Ok so why would I take pictures of the piping prior to putting the insulation on? A little too late since most is already done. Pressure is at 2 psi, I have checked that and according to "We Got Steam" that is where it needs to be. I don't plan on touching that until I have accomplished everything else (ie insulation, leveling, and checking vents) on my list. Also what is the lwco? Must have not gotten that far in the books yet. Also how do I do a "blow test"? Again haven't gotten that far in the book.



To Steamhead: Currently that is what on one pipe in the garage. There are two or three more in the crawl space which is next to the boiler room. The "main" that these vents are attached to is roughly 32ft long and a diameter of 2 1/2 inches (don't know if that is OD or ID)

Steamhead

Is this

a one-pipe system (only one pipe connected to each radiator)?



If so, you'll have to trace out and measure up whatever each vent is supposed to handle.



We want the steam to fill the mains first, then rise to all the radiators at about the same time. Proper main vents are key to this.

Meyer1120

yep

yes this is a one pipe system. I was just assuming that since at one time the vents were there that they were placed there correctly?