Flatiron Building Video

Steamhead

The famous wedge-shaped building in NYC. Looks like it has (or had) a Paul system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WXNjYuS2zY&feature=youtu.be

Erin Holohan Haskell

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

MilanD

Awesome! Thanks for sharing @Steamhead.

DanHolohan

Nice!

Pumpguy

Typically, a Paul system would have the air valves higher up on the radiator.

But then, what other purpose would the 1/4" (?) radiator drain pipe serve?

Another famous building with a Paul Type one pipe steam system is the Monadnock Building in Chicago. Their's is still in operation.

BobC

I've only been to NYC a few times but each time I make it a point to go by both the Flatiron and the Chrysler Buildings, the best architecture in the city imho.

Bob

KC_Jones

My father has one of those elevator governors at his house, used to sit on the fireplace hearth with an old fire hydrant.

Grallert

That's a neat post.

luketheplumber

I am speechless. As of 2020 it the old Paul system has been removed in favor of central air.🤢😢😢
@DanHolohan
@Steamhead
@Erin Holohan Haskell
@BobC

dopey27177

Back in 1990 I had a service call to an apartment on the top floor of the flat iron building,

An apartment was renovated, all the radiators were disconnected, sand blasted and repainted.

The radiators were reinstalled without the air release piping re-installed. The contractor installed vent valves used for water heating systems which only allowed one or two sections of the radiators to heat.

When I went down into the boiler room I found the air removal pump in operation, traced the air removal piping to the risers that supplied the steam to the radiators.

The apartments attached to the air vent piping did not heat well as the air removal piping on the top floor was left open ended.

Fortunately I had some copper tubing and caps and plugs.

My job was to find out why there was no heat in that apartment.

I connected one radiator and plugged and capped the open lines and amazingly stem was restored to the one radiator.

My next evolution was to meet the G.C. and instruct his plumber on the need to re-connect the air release piping to the radiators.

All said and done the system worked s designed after the air release piping was reinstalled.

Jake.

Erin Holohan Haskell

luketheplumber said:

I am speechless. As of 2020 it the old Paul system has been removed in favor of central air.🤢😢😢
@DanHolohan
@Steamhead
@Erin Holohan Haskell
@BobC

Yes. Take a look at the size of the original coal boilers in the #6 post here.