CHECK OUT THIS OLD 1927 VAPOR SYSTEM

neo1

What a joy to work on this piece of history. The boiler is in a large home in lake wood ohio. The boiler was taken off line in 70s and is now replaced with a well mclain with a feed pump. Ive had to change the pressuretrol to a vapor stat for obvious reasons and replace some main vents other wise the system runs great. Check out the return trap. Prior service men had this old system running at 3 psi.I cranked it down and fuel bills lowered and heat returned to the rads just like the dead man who put it in intended. Enjoy pics

Steamhead

Looks like a Trane system

and you don't need a feed pump. 

neo1

I believe to it is a trane

And the new much LOWER water content boiler would flood because of the lag in the condensate so im pretty sure the feed pump was needed on the conversion to a boiler with about 8 to 12 gallons of water in it operating range. Yes the boiler is sized right and the returns are open. im pretty sure the old boiler in the picture held a little more water then the new egh 85. Not to mention according to mfg specs the lag in this system definitly calls for a feed pump.

neo1

I believe to it is a trane

And the new much LOWER water content boiler would flood because of the lag in the condensate so im pretty sure the feed pump was needed on the conversion to a boiler with about 8 to 12 gallons of water in it operating range. Yes the boiler is sized right and the returns are open. im pretty sure the old boiler in the picture held a little more water then the new egh 85. Not to mention according to mfg specs the lag in this system definitly calls for a feed pump.

ShawnG

Omgosh can you help me with a similar system in my house?

I am so happy to se this post. I have an old house I am renting but want to buy. It has a similar system which has worked wonderfully until we ran out of oil accidentally (oil company only delivered 127 gallons for a 500 gallon tank!) anyway, one wing of the house won't heat and the repair people told me no one is still alive that knows how to work this thing. Any suggestions?

Thank you!!!!!

Shawn

neo1

check your main vents

Make sure you are using a vaporstat and if there are traps on rads or vapor devices that they operating. Initially sounds like a venting issue. To high of pressure could also may be forcing some steam into the return killing your differiantial pressure. Most vapor system in my area have been repaired by techs who like to crank the pressure up and this can definitley shut off some rads curisous to know any water hammer and in what part of the cycle. Also keep searching for a reputable licensed hydronic contractor in your area. We are all not dead yet as you can see by some of the great post on this site.

neo1

check your main vents

Make sure you are using a vaporstat and if there are traps on rads or vapor devices that they operating. Initially sounds like a venting issue. To high of pressure could also may be forcing some steam into the return killing your differiantial pressure. Most vapor system in my area have been repaired by techs who like to crank the pressure up and this can definitley shut off some rads curisous to know any water hammer and in what part of the cycle. Also keep searching for a reputable licensed hydronic contractor in your area. We are all not dead yet as you can see by some of the great post on this site.

Steamhead

As long as you keep the pressure low

so you don't compress the steam, it should work without a feed pump since you don't need to generate as much steam to fill the system. If the condensate is slow to return, it would be best to find out why and fix it. Feed pumps are unnecessary complications on many systems.