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Master Venting for One-Pipe Pumped Return (no main vents, only steam traps)

mgeraci
mgeraci Member Posts: 13
Hello! I have a large building with a one-pipe steam with a pumped return. The building is interested in master venting, and when I surveyed the piping, I found there were no existing main vents, only steam traps at the ends of the mains before the condensate pumps. Would it make sense to do master venting on the mains here or is it unnecessary because the steam traps are venting the air sufficiently.

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    F&T traps, I presume? They do vent, after a fashion, but they aren't really meant to be vents. They're meant to be traps. It's likely that main vents -- on the mains -- will help. Be generous.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • mgeraci
    mgeraci Member Posts: 13
    Yes, F&T traps. It's my understanding that the F&T traps are venting the air through the mains in the basement and the risers are vented through radiators and riser vents. Thank you for your input!
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    If your F&T's have 4 ports, the unused top port could be used to vent the steam main.
    mgeraci