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Should return side vents in my 2-pipe system ever close?

DuggieFresh5
DuggieFresh5 Member Posts: 48
in Strictly Steam
Intuitively, I don't think those vents should ever close because only condensate will be in that line. The reality is that they do close during a long burn. Are my expectations out of line?

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,323
    You might have a bad trap somewhere, if the returns are getting hot enough to close the vents.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,788
    Do you know what kind of 2-pipe system you have? Are their traps on the radiators, or keyed valves on the outlet. Or, some other type of fitting.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
    frankii
  • DuggieFresh5
    DuggieFresh5 Member Posts: 48
    The radiators all have traps. I know there was steam getting into the returns and Gerry Gill installed a trap on a radiator we found without one.

    It sounds like I need to determine if one of my traps failed...
  • DuggieFresh5
    DuggieFresh5 Member Posts: 48
    Thanks Steamhead. I dropped Gerry a line to ask for more help.

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