Does It Pay To Fix Those Steam Traps?

HeatingHelp

Does It Pay To Fix Those Steam Traps?

Short answer: It sure does, but not in the way you may think.

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tp tunstall

Fantastic Dan....another easy to read, easy to understand, simple explanation . Bulls-eye
All the best, T.P. Tunstall

Steve Minnich

Yes! At Elevate Energy, we facilitate the testing and replacement of traps in large apartment buildings. And we quantify the savings.

DanHolohan

Thanks, T.P.

Henry

Let 2 or 3 thermostatic radiateur traps vent steam and get a lot of banging. This banging will destroy other traps. We use outside trap distributors to do a trap survey. In one case, we replaced 233 radiateur traps.

jkatz

Very good insight into trap "savings"! I have never been totally comfortable with methodology of those savings estimates that we always do, although the 'orifice leak method' its generally accepted among engineers and the many incentive program managers alike.
However, one could argue that due to the lost steam via the failed open trap, that may still cause a boiler burner to run longer in some systems, as it tries to satisfy the pressuretrol setting, while pressure is being lost to the return side. Possibly heat-timer controlled boilers may not suffer as much from this. That all said, I totally agree that the 'real' energy savings mechanisms are more complex than the simplified "orifice leakage = energy saved" concept.
- Jon Katz

Mrmarky

Hello Hello....im working through the hammering on a newly acquired 17 unit apartment building. I have a 2 pipe steam system. We have replaced all the thermostatic traps and properly pitched radiators in the units. I have noticed while tracing steam mains and condensate lines in the basement that all the F&T traps have been removed at the end of steam lines and are running directly into the condensate return line. I've come to the conclusion these need to be added back. My question is how to pipe these into the system. the mains are running horizontal to the basement wall where it opens to 2 vertical runs to the radiators above and a single vertical run to the condensate line below..do I need a y strainer and valve or can it just be the trap?

DanHolohan

Is there a boiler-feed pump?

Mrmarky

@DanHolohan yes is does have a pump. Here’s a picture of one of the vertical drip lines direct into condensate return .. most of my research suggests adding traps on these to prevent steam from entering the return. Local supply house suggested a thermostatic trap would work here as well, less expensive too...appreciate your thoughts on this

DanHolohan

Yes, you need the F&T traps. Thermostatic radiator traps would be too slow in handling the condensate load. The water hammer would continue.

tlowc34

I'm convinced to repair my traps, but I have a follow up question: Repair the Trane B-2 2 Pipe steam traps with Tunstall innards or swap them out for entirely new units that will require swapping spuds and might not have the same dimensions? Which is the better option for functionality and ease of installation?

DanHolohan

Absolutely Tunstall.

Koan

I have use Barnes and Jones trap guts very successfully