Gorton #2 Main Vent

laldog30cs

Recently bought a Gorton #2 to vent one of the steam mains.

Appears to be stuck closed. Holding vent upright, air should pass through upper openings on the top of the vent when "blowing through" with your mouth, correct?

I whacked it a few times, boiled it in vinegar for a bit, but still unable to blow air through it.

Is there another method of "unsticking" this. I don't want to waste a week returning this and waiting for a new one to arrive.

Thanks.

Frank_the_Tank

You may want to take a look at the other recent thread titled "Getting Main Vents to open between cycles". Even a properly functioning Gorton #2 vent may not work for your situation, especially if you have insulated mains or less than a couple hours between heating cycles.

Steamhead

Send it back and get it replaced.

Paul_11

I usually have about 2 bad gorton 2 vents out of a box of 40.
i just return them.
I have never seen one stuck closed though.
If you blow you will feel the air go through.
If you don't feel air, it is stuck closed.

all steam air vents open when the pressure is below 1.5 psi whether between a cycle or in the middle of a cycle.
That is one of the beautiful things about a properly set up steam system. You will get a new cycle of steam going to the radiators even with the boiler off, when the pressure drops below 1.5 and the vents open.
GOTTA LOVE IT

JoelL

I just installed 4 Gorton #2's in a tree on the return end of one of the mains on my 1-pipe steam system replacing a single Vent Rite #77. They all leak steam with the system (as far as I can tell) fully heated up. So far the overall steam loss is small as the system doesn't stay on full for long before satisfying the thermostat and the building is pretty uniformly warm. Has anyone see this high a rate of problems with these valves? I bought them a couple of years ago and only just got around to installing them. Do I have any chance at this point of getting them replaced? Thanks!

Steamhead

A while back they had some bad parts come through. Try washing them out first to make sure the seats are clean. If they still leak, call Gorton and see what they say.

JoelL

Thanks - I'll give that a try.

jbmoff

Let us know as I'm having issues with my Gortons as well.
Regards....