steam systems and people's health

GW

Does anyone have any experience with people not getting along with a new steam install? I have a lady (maybe in her 60s just guessing) that is having a hard time, we've skimmed the system 4 times. The husband doesn't have any problems at all.

So, two-folded question, any ideas on what may be happening (if you have experienced this type of issue), and second, does anyone have a polite way to add into your terms and conditions that this is in fact an open-to-the-atmosphere steel and cast iron heating system, that there's 80 years of goop in the system that may not smell wonderful?

Gsmith

Try searching on this site for "odor in steam systems" or "smell" in steam systems, there are/were a few threads in the past 6 months to a year on theses subjects.

But, remember that there are a few small percentage of people that are super-smellers or super-tasters that have exceptionally keen senses of smells and tastes (they often can discern individual ingredients in food) and you could be dealing with such a person. I don't have a clue about how to deal with this though.

Steamhead

I'd try flushing the system out from top to bottom. Assuming this is a one-pipe system, you could rig up a hose connection and hook it up to the radiator air vent tapping. Then flush out the return lines using the same technique on the main vent tappings.

SlamDunk

This is true... I added baseboards with vents and I was nauseous until all the dope and oils wore off. At someones suggestion on this board, I installed additional vents on end of main in basement and smaller, slower vents on baseboards. the combination of both helped.

GW

thanks for the replies

It's a one pipe

Steamhead, You have hooked up a hose to the air vent tapping???? Like, all of the rads? was that an all day affair?

JUGHNE

A previous thread about this might have concluded the culprit was pipe dope or Teflon tape. It got pretty involved.

You didn't drop the head of your screwdriver into the boiler did you .....sorry I couldn't resist.

GW

haha! all of my tools and tool appendages were accounted for but i will ask my guys and the electrician.

We use the typical #5 yellow on the dry and usually a tape and dope on the wet.

I never understood why some guys like to tape the piping above the boiler.

GW

I think it's the customer and her heightened sense of smell. When i was skimming one day she intercepted me as i was running buckets out the back basement door and she made an effort to smell the bucket of boiler water. She said, 'no that's not what i am smelling', even though there was clearly an slight odor to the water.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@jughne, I remember that thread. Was that ever resolved? As I recall they blamed the "blue monster" tape? Is that correct?

nicholas bonham-carter

This smelly problem could be another reason not to do all the system venting through the radiator vents, as advised by the Gorton website, but instead follow the advice of the ancients: “vent the mains generously, and the radiators slowly”.
I’m sure that GW (an experienced, and highly regarded pro here) has taken pains in that regard, but others have not.—NBC

Steamhead

GW said:

thanks for the replies

It's a one pipe

Steamhead, You have hooked up a hose to the air vent tapping???? Like, all of the rads? was that an all day affair?

Yup. And it did take a while, but there was no other way to do it without disconnecting the radiators. Basically, you make up a reduction from hose thread to 1/8" pipe thread on one end and from hose to 1/2" on the other, then hook it up to the shower head.

nicholas bonham-carter

Hooking to the kitchen sink is easier as there are adaptors for that purpose, and you have full water pressure.
Generally steam pipes are as clean as a whistle, as they are constantly washed in pure H2O. However, it does look good to the owner that you are going the extra mile.
If the main venting is very good, along with the boiler piping, then there will not have been a lot of debris, and bad water blown up into the rads.
Speaking of bad water, could the previous boiler been treated with “Stop Leak”, which is full of smelly chemicals?—NBC

Dave0176

The majority time I get complaints from a rotten egg oily smell from the radiators. Unfortunately it is cutting oils, I usually skim good immediately after the install but let the HO run boiler a good two weeks then I’ll return and wash the boiler out, this usually takes care of the problems.

GW

nicholas bonham-carter said:

This smelly problem could be another reason not to do all the system venting through the radiator vents, as advised by the Gorton website, but instead follow the advice of the ancients: “vent the mains generously, and the radiators slowly”.
I’m sure that GW (an experienced, and highly regarded pro here) has taken pains in that regard, but others have not.—NBC

are you trying to flatter me? hahaha. I admit steam isn't my greatest of skills

GW

Steamhead, you have been very helpful. I'm at least as keen on the business side as i am putting these systems in; so do you just throw in that labor or do you have some general communication as to varying levels of flushing and cleaning?

DZoro

I had a secretary that was super sensitive/allergic. We tore the walls in our office apart for her. She thought mold. There was none.....Some people are very keen on scents and allergic to many, many things yes food allergies are very common to them.
Definitely explain that what you are attempting to do for her is not the normal scope of a install. Let her know how much to do it, but make sure she understands that you still may not be able to resolve what she can smell/react to. There are many variables involve in this situation. It's good that the husband doesn't have any issue. Can you or your guys sense anything out of the ordinary? PS I do stay away from the Blue dope and tape. Yellow and white Teflon paste is our go to. The yellow does have a bit of chemical oil smell to it.

GW

Thanks Dennis. I'll make up some polite verbiage to add into my other pieces of terms and conditions.