Just got new Hoffman 1As from pex supply

rhodie_

One had a rust ring around the nipple on the body, looks clearly used. And three of them look like this. Tongue is flanged out on one side so much that they barely fit in the hole, and run against the side. That's not normal, right? The other ones I got looked nice and smooth on both sides of the tongue.

ChrisJ

Depends

I bought 12 of them from Pexsupply and they all seemed about the same.  None were perfect



Keep in mind, those vents are plated brass, they cannot rust.  Also the vents are likely tested with steam before being packed so some water may be left in the vents and some plating may be rubbed off when tested.   I've switched all of my vents to Gorton because I had issues with the 1As.  I got used to adjusting them with the sloppy cap and useless numbers, but I had problems with them getting a little drip of water in the orifice and it would stop the radiator from heating until I cleared it with a can of air.   My understanding is most people DO NOT have this problem so don't let it bother you.  I also didn't care for the loud click-clack sounds they make, but could have easily lived with it if it wasn't for the water plugging problem.



Just because the tongue isn't perfect and there are blemishes in the plating doesn't necessarily mean they were used in my opinion.  I've ordered a lot of stuff from pexsupply and have no complaints.

ChrisJ

Pictures

Here are pictures of a Hoffman 1A I had cut open a while back.

Notice the inside is all tarnished brass just from steam and what not.  The tongue is incredibly flimsy and can probably be bent by hand or with needle nose pliers if you want to straighten it.

Some of mine also had imperfections in the plating the day I got them in sealed Hoffman boxes.  They are a quality product and built pretty solid, but they aren't perfect is all.

Hopefully this makes you feel a little better.

Hap_Hazzard

Send them back.

Obviously they already let somebody return one of them.



I got a Gorton #1 last year that arrived with a big dent in it. They took it back, but they wouldn't send the replacement until they received it, so it took a while.

Hap_Hazzard

Ever try unsoldering one?

I tried to open up a Dole #4 by softening up the solder with a propane torch. It was just starting to loosen up and, BANG!



One of my prouder moments.

ChrisJ

soldering

Nope, never really thought of it actually.

It looked like the main body was extruded or something and then the base was crimped on but I'm not 100% sure. I don't have them anymore so unfortunately cannot check.



I've been a "Gorton man" for over a year now.

Hap_Hazzard

Gortons won't pop if you heat them.

They use a bimetal element to close on heat.



The Hoffmans, like my ill-fated Dole, have a capsule with a little alcohol or ammonia inside that flashes to vapor when the steam hits it. When the torch hits it it wants to expand a tad more than the capsule will allow, so it pops and shoots the top of the container into the ceiling hard enough to bend on impact.



Did you see the Gorton #2 that JStar sacrificed for us? That was cool.

ChrisJ

Ah

That's what you meant by pop. I thought you meant you just "popped" the top off, I didn't think it was literal.



No, I never saw the one Jstar did but I did see Gerry Gill's video of one cut open. Do you have a link?

pcloadletter

Hoffmans are hit or miss

I bought a bunch of 1A's from both PexSupply and my local supply house last winter and some of them worked but others didn't. Some of them popped and closed like they are supposed to when steam hits them and others just stayed open the whole time.

Hap_Hazzard

Brain Fade

You're right, it was Gerry Gill, not JStar. Sorry about that, Gerry! That was a great video.



I should have made a video of the quick-vent exploding. That would have been pretty funny.

conversiontime

looks ok to me

They look like the 1as I used via same supplier. You may have to push the tongue a bit to insert in rad but you should see some of the old hoffman antique 2 tongues in my basement, they look like a hummingbird bill that curves down 90 degrees and are approx 2.5 inches long!



My older 1as (probably 20+ years old?) still work really well. purging nicely in/out though they do make loud click/clacks. The newer ones are quieter but as Chrsj mentions they can get clogged with water and go cold. The two with this problem I put on farthest rads and no problems since. Do find they work best set 4-6 regardless of proximity to boiler. My own suspicions is there may have been a redesign since the old to make them quieter and they are not as robust as a result.



Just this week I switched out three final old usav vents that were still purging but never really closing with gorton 4 and 5. These were also via same supplier and like Gorton 2 seem to be good quality. These nipples has the same tarnished look you noted but do not appear to have ever been used. I use plumber tape on the nipple connection when screwing in fwiw to prevent any slight spitting or drips if threading is old or not binding well.

rhodie_

Thanks guys.

I'm going to send the 4 back. The used one actually had a jammed tongue. Couldn't pry it loose, and it didn't work at all. The other three I could probably tweak with a pliers, but I think I'll just send them back. Pex seems to be good about returns, which is nice. I was thinking to get ventrite #1s in their place as I kind of want a slower vent upstairs anyway. It gets hot up there, fast. Thinking the hoffmans will be great to get the bottom level warmer a bit faster, and kick out the thermostat before i roast upstairs. Strangely, the cheapies that are on there now seem to be working ok, but they're not adjustable and are just heating too fast. They're doles, I believe.

Si_zim

Used vents

I got a few Gortons from PexSupply- some had pretty corroded threads and one had a lot of blue monster pipe dope inside. Not happy about that - emailed them and they said they checked their inventory and a lot of the vents are like that... Gorton tests each one. But I would hope they would know that the sealer belongs on the outside of the fitting not inside. Photo taken fresh out of the box- still in the wrapper

ChrisJ

Sealer?

Are you sure that is thread sealer and not just corrosion on the brass from sitting after being exposed to water?



I guess it could confirm my suspicion that its a good idea to skim the boiler a few weeks after installing new vents. I always use tape because I do everything I can to keep dope out of the water.

Si_zim

Sealer

Think it's sealer- held that one back for last so I'll have a closer look.

Either way- we are paying for new vents I think we should expect new vents!

ChrisJ

Absolutely

I completely agree I'm just saying I don't know if we can assume they are "used" just by that alone.



If it truly is thread sealer then we still don't know Gorton didn't get some on it when testing it.

Si_zim

Yup

You're right- I should confirm what it is before making a fuss. Seems like pretty bad corrosion if that's just from testing. These vents must have been sitting around for ages with water in them to look that though right?

Hap_Hazzard

Ridden hard and put away wet?

If Gorton's getting water in their products during testing I would hope they know enough to dry them out.