1/8” tap for Gorton #2?

cnjamros

Hi everyone.

Looking to add a Main Vent at the end of the short return in the system pictured here. Hoping to add a single Gorton #2.

The last fitting before the condensate return is a 1-1/4” galvanized elbow. This leg is only 17’ long.

This being my first tap-and-thread, I’m a little apprehensive. I would like to be as cautious and conservative as possible.

By the venting chart, it looks as though I’d be ok with a 1/8” tap for a single Gorton 2, resulting in less drilling by-product (shavings, oil, etc).

Can anyone see any, pardon the pun, holes in my thinking?

Thanks in advance.
C.

Steamhead

If that's all the bigger your hole can be, use a Gorton #D. Its venting port is about the same size. There's nothing wrong with tapping several D vents into the same pipe to get the capacity you want.

cnjamros

I can go bigger if needed... The elbow is 1-1/4". But I'm trying to avoid introducing all that debris/oil into the system by drilling a larger hole. The big question: Am I overthinking?

I do have a boiler service set for next week, so perhaps this is the perfect time to do it, since they'll be cleaning the boiler anyway.

The question is, do I NEED to make a bigger hole? A Gorton #2 and a 1/8" open pipe vent at nearly the same rate. Would I be fine tapping 1/8" and using an adapter coupling to install the #2?

JUGHNE

I would do 1/4". A 1/8" nipple could be easily plugged IMO.

This might be overkill with the strainers with the blow down caps, that is the reason for the pipe supports. But this had been a 90 year old system that had been badly treated for probably 30 years. A lot of debris/junk inside.