Main Valve Help

Kev3b

Hi there. New to steam heat here.



I currently live in a 2nd floor apartment with a one pipe steam system. The boiler is only a year old, as the basement was flooded last year and the old one was destroyed.



When I first moved in all the radiators had cheapo big box store air vents on them. I replaced all the vents in the house with Ventrite #1 adjustable vents. But, even with these the radiators still whistle, especially on the rads that are above the 5 setting. From reading some posts on here, I think the vents are working to hard, so I checked out the mains in the basement. Surprisingly, I only can find one main (Ventrite #33).



One, is this vent sufficient? And if not,, what should I replace it with? I don't have the ability to add main vents, since it is not my place, but the landlord says I can change the vent if I want.



Also, the rad in the picture is the biggest in the house. The next biggest is only held that size in terms of length.

Rod

Don't Replace ,Add a vent

Hi- That's probably a Ventrite #35.(The numbers on those are hard to read.!)   You might want to supplement that with a Gorton #1 which has 3 times the venting capacity of the #35

The Gorton #1 is available from either your local heating supply store or from Pex Supply http://www.pexsupply.com/  on the internet.  If the Ventrite 35 is still operational, (you can clean it by soaking it in CLR or boiling it in white vinegar) and then with a few elbows and a tee, install both it and the Gorton #1 on the vent pipe. That would give you 4 times the venting you originally had,

- Rod   

Kev3b

Thanks

Thanks Rod. I just took the vent off and it actually is a #33. Does that make a difference? It looks like he'll, but when I blew through it it still passes air, although not as much as I would hope. You think the Gorton #1 is my best bet?

Rod

Main Vent

There is Vent Rite 33 but it's a convector vent, not a main vent. The easy way to tell is that the 33 attaches with a 1/4 MPT thread.  The 33 and 35 both look similar.so maybe someone thought that it was a main vent. The 33 has a lot less venting capacity than the 35 so I'd just use the Gorton #1 which should be a big improvement over what you have now.  The Gorton #1 has a 3/4 MPT thread and an internal  1/2 FPT thread. so you can attach it with either 3/4 inch or 1/2 inch fittings.

   Since you're paying for this yourself you might want to look at Maid-O-Mist vents at Home Depot. There is a "D" model and a #1 Model. Both have the same venting capacity as the Gorton #1. The "D" might be a easier change for you as it comes with straight 1/4 thread.

Gortons are better quality vents but since it is your money ...!

- Rod

Kev3b

Hopefully good to go

Replaced the Ventrite 33 with the new Gorton #1. The opening was 1/2",so I picked up a 1/2" nipple. If I run into any problems I know where to come now. Thanks for the help.