Replace 2 Main vents? One pipe steam system. 98 year old house.

davevarga

Hi, this is the other house I own. It is 98 years old. There are 12 radiators total on three floors. I just discovered (the second one!) there are two main vents, both Gorton #2 (quite large!). Neither of them makes any sound at any time during the steaming process. I have owned this house for 14 years, never replaced them. Should I just go ahead and replace them?

Canucker

Are you having any issues with the system?

mikeg2015

Are they leaking or venting out steam? If not they probably work just fine. Might need cleaned. But if installed on top of a 12” pipe then little debris should get to them.

Pictures?

JUGHNE

If you are so inclined to take them off for cleaning, when held straight up you should be able to blow easily thru them.. then while still blowing turn them upside down....then should seal tight. The float should rattle inside when shaken.

If they were stuck shut and now open, they should of course close when steam hits them. If after cleaning they don't close, then replace.
Higher is better for protection from debris.

davevarga

Jughne and others, thank you so much. There is no leakage or steam getting through. They are all a few inches above the horizontal return pipe.

I will take them down and examine them as you said Jughne and determine if good or bad. Thank you all!

New England SteamWorks

Let us know how it turns out. Your system might be large enough to benefit from more than just 2 Gorton no.2s