One or Two pipe System

RichardHascha

I recently purchased a Victorian home in upstate NY. The house was built in the late 1800 early 1900 era. I am hoping someone can help me solve a confusing issue i am having. The main breaks off the boiler in two directions (front and rear of home) then again (left and right) from there every situation is the same. The main will tee off a bull with one vertical for the riser and the other for the dry return. The riser will tee off for a first floor radiator then continue to the second floor radiator. The second floor radiators return condensate threw the the supply (one pipe), the first floor rads return condensate from threw a pipe on the opposite side of the rad. (two pipe) with no trap, drop down and tie into the dry return. (which is separate from the main). That all being said all the radiators heat fairly equally, with no hammer. It doesn't look like the system was modified. I am new to steam heat but not naive to home heating. Has anyone ever seen a system as i have described?

nicholas bonham-carter

Somewhere in the museum will be a description of your system.
https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/category/old-steam
Are the elbows on the return side of the rads plain, or special?
Post some pictures of the radiators.--NBC

RichardHascha

The returns are are plane old black pipe. and the rads a American Radiator Ornate units.

KC_Jones

Do the 2 pipe rads have vents like the 1 pipe rads do?

nicholas bonham-carter

More reading on the subject. Do you have valves at each end? --NBC

http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/145436/two-pipe-air-vented-system

RichardHascha

No just one valve .

RichardHascha

All the rads have Gorton vents . Also the system runs on very low pressure ( doesn't even move a 1-3psi gauge).

KC_Jones

Take a picture of the 2 different rads (1 pipe and 2 pipe) so we can see what you have.

RichardHascha

Pictures will be forthcoming

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