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Cynical Single Pipe Steam Valve Exposed!

Gordo
Gordo Member Posts: 857
in Strictly Steam
For your viewing pleasure, a YouTube video of a cut apart 1-1/4" single pipe steam radiator valve pretending to be an 1-1/2" valve and failing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VcNG3UOiCU
All Steamed Up, Inc.
"Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc

Comments

  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    cool video Gordo..excellent investigative work there.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    I think I've seen that valve before. http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/147148/radiator-valves-full-port
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • ttekushan_3
    ttekushan_3 Member Posts: 960
    Ah. The old "check valve" effect. That would make for maddening troubleshooting on a flooded boiler issue.
    Manufacturer knows what they are called, not what they are for.

    Good catch.

    Terry T

    steam; proportioned minitube; trapless; jet pump return; vac vent. New Yorker CGS30C

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,254
    So would that valve worked for hot water? That is the issue in that people think it looks like a steam valve, but it is not "fat" enough to handle both steam & condensate.
    My wholesale supplier pointed out a difference between water and steam angle valves. He would only stock the steam which would do water as well...for just a few dollars more.
    He sales the RWV valves, made in Taiwan also, but are labeled as steam valves. A fairly decent valve, however I have only used them on a 2 pipe system, so the 1 pipe test was not observed by me. The next choice was actual Hoffman valves, but where are they built today?
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 857
    edited October 2016
    @JUGHNE : I think this "American" valve is a supposed to be a pure steam valve because I've been told hot water radiator valves are supposed to have - by design - a built-in bypass so you cannot shut them completely off and cause the radiator freeze up... that's the theory, anyway. But you could use it on a hot water system anyway. I would not, because I have serious misgivings about its overall quality of construction.

    If they totally fail on design on things you can see, then it makes one wonder what short-cuts they took on things you can't see such as the metallurgy.

    "Hoffman valves" have not been made by Hoffman for years. Currently, they are using the Marsh valve pattern... this week. Not many years ago, Hoffman was re-branding Mepco valves.
    They are very pricey and the internals are a bit tight for single pipe steam. Very nice for two-pipe, however.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 857
    edited October 2016
    And it keeps getting better!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiIod5Bk5Z0
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc

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