1924 Steam Heat System Question

JWE551982

Hey guys, I have a question about our steam heating system at our office. I'm currently in the process of finding a appropriate Main Vent to replace the two ancient main vents that I'm sure are not working. Also, the system has a Hoffman #60 vacuum breaker on another return coming back through the brick wall into the boiler room, was this breaker put in and used with the coal fired boiler originally, should it be replaced with a regular air vent with the current has fired boiler? Pics following. Thanks for your help.

SlamDunk

Nice car collection!

ethicalpaul

No one has responded yet so I'll say that if it were mine, yes, I'd put main vents in those spots. I would put a Maid O Mist or Gorton #1 in each space, but others might recommend the Gorton #2 which would be fine but costs a lot more.

I don't quite understand the second "main" coming out of the wall...do you have multiple main pipes, or is that all the same pipe that runs all over the place?

With those uninsulated mains, I think the #1 would get you "good enough" venting.

I'm sorry to have to tell you but the near boiler piping is absolutely horrible. Does your system bang or shoot water from vents? If not, count yourself very lucky.

PS: cool basement

EBEBRATT-Ed

@ethicalpaul

Nipples coming out of the boiler are probably reduced and no equalizer. Could be a lot worse

ethicalpaul

Worse than no equalizer (and really no header either)?? What could be worse?

The random friable remnants of the asbestos insulation aren't great either

ChicagoCooperator

Breakaway - in a G T O

(you aren't one of my cousins are you, the MG's and GTO's seem like their car choices)

neilc

I don't recognise the green tee top,
mustang ?

Steamhead

Those steam mains look fairly big. How long are they, and what pipe size?

JWE551982

Thanks for the comments, yeah the GTO, MG, & 442 are Dad's cars the 280zx is mine, but back to the heat system yes the asbestos insulation is bad and needs replaced with fiberglass, but I'm obviously not touching it or disturbing what's left, & abatement is expensive so I can't cross that bridge right now, those vents at the end of each steam main were identified as thermodisc steam traps by a knowledgeable gentleman that was with Hoffman for 50+ yrs in Indianapolis so I trust he knows what he is talking about, the radiators have a few Hoffman #40's and many are Hoffman 1a's for adjustability and they are fairly new and seem to work fine, I'd say the mains are 3" & probably 50 ft long or so. I know that the lack of insulation is a major issue with these old 1 pipe systems.....

Steamhead

OK, you will need at least one Gorton #2 vent on each main.

JWE551982

Not 3" probably 5-6" mains

Steamhead

Measure their diameter and let us know for sure.

JWE551982

Hey guys, sorry it took so long, but I measured the mains and the best I can tell the o.d. is about 11". Also, there is a hoffman #60 vacuum break on the main that serves the back of the office, was that something that is a holdover from the coal boiler days? Does it need to be changed to a vent? Lastly my boiler supply company sent me 2 steam traps to replace the ancient ones on each main bank on each side of the basement that serves the front of the office. These will not work as they have to be plumbed in-line and the original ones are on a piece of pipe threaded directly into the mains. So not sure if they misinterpreted what I was needing or what, I will be posting pics as well. Thanks!

JWE551982

Jamie Hall

Are the devices which you are referring to as "steam traps" the ones in the pictures? Because those aren't steam traps. Those are big vents. Which is what they need to be replaced with, if they aren't working. Is there any visible marking left on them?

neilc

what's that last picture of ?

JWE551982

The last pic is of one of the new steam traps they sent me, which I don't think are correct.

JWE551982

Steamhead recommended Gorton #2's to replace those old vents with.....

JWE551982

There is writing on the top but it is hard to read, I made out thermodisc, & Chicago,IL but thats about it....

Jamie Hall

JWE551982 said:

The last pic is of one of the new steam traps they sent me, which I don't think are correct.

Nope.

And why didn't you replace those with Gorton #2s, as @Steamhead suggested?

EBEBRATT-Ed

They are thermodisk traps. They tend to blow flash steam. I would use an f & T or a thermostatic trap

JWE551982

Jamie Hall, I will be changing them, just haven't ordered them yet. Will be getting them this week.

JUGHNE

I looked thru these pictures several times and see no traps, unless the ceiling radiators have traps on the outlet if they are not 1 pipe rads.
Also don't see any 11" OD pipe....maybe 6" for some of it.

Main air vents is all I have noticed and some really old unique ones at that.

JWE551982

Should this vacuum breaker be left in place or should it be changed to a air vent as well? I thought these were holdovers from coal fired boiler days??

JWE551982

Jamie Hall

Are you quite sure that's just a vacuum breaker, and not also a vent? In any case, I'd change it to a modern vent.

JWE551982

@Jamie Hall, yes just a vacuum breaker Hoffman #62.

Jamie Hall

JWE551982 said:

@Jamie Hall, yes just a vacuum breaker Hoffman #62.

OK. But a modern vent will do the same thing (they open on vacuum) -- and I wouldn't be at all surprised if that location wouldn't be well served with a vent.

JWE551982

Does anybody have a opinion on the Barnes & Jones Big Mouth Vent vs Gorton #2's for my main steam lines?

Jamie Hall

Personally? I much prefer the Gorton #2, particularly as it has a float which ensures that if any water finds its way to the vent it will close and keep the water in where it belongs.