Manual for my boiler

Ozmat

I am trying to find out as much information I can about the steam system installed in my house. More importantly, the boiler itself. There seems to be eight valves and three by-pass loops going to and from the steam traps and the main. The original boiler has been replaced with a Crane 300 series gas boiler. The valves and steam traps are all original.

The house warms up nicely when the system is operating, I am just not sure of all the valve positioning, especially with these by-pass loops. I would like to find an operators manual from 1930 on this system. Rriigghhtt.


Is anyone familiar with what I have?

mattmia2

What name is on those devices? What about the steam traps on the radiators and the radiator valves? That is usually a clue to what system it was. it could just be an ordinary 2 pipe system and those are just crossover traps that connect the mains to the returns.

Most of the valves are probably for service and flushing except for the one that looks like it is the water feed.

random12345

More pictures please. How old is this boiler? The Crane 300 I mean.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Ozmat

Your not going to find a manual. What you need is the book "lost art of steam heat" available on this site.

Steam system is not like a car or a washing machine. It is built up on the job out of different parts and pieces........not a factory built package. .....By the book it will be your best help

mattmia2

There are some more pictures on some of his other posts. With those check valves in the return it looks like it might be a hoffman system.

STEVEusaPA

Your best bet is to find one of the steam guru's on this site, have them come over for inspection/tune up, and have them go over the system with you-all the things you need to do, and all the things to call them to do.

Ozmat

Thanks. Anyone in the Charlotte area? There are no company’s around here that work on this type of system. I do have the book, “We Got Steam Heat”, it has been very helpful. No way I trust anyone checking this system out after talking to some of these companies on the phone.

If anyone knows of someone around Charlotte to take a look, it would be appreciated.

I will send more pictures in a few days.

Thanks for all the information and wisdom.

neilc

post better pictures of those trap/gizmos shown at the end of the other pictures,
try to get any embossed writings on them,
and how they're piped,

Steamhead

mattmia2 said:

What name is on those devices? What about the steam traps on the radiators and the radiator valves? That is usually a clue to what system it was. it could just be an ordinary 2 pipe system and those are just crossover traps that connect the mains to the returns.

Most of the valves are probably for service and flushing except for the one that looks like it is the water feed.

The device on the right says "Webster" on it. It is a Boiler Return Trap which is more properly a pressure-powered pump that can return the condensate if the boiler pressure gets too high.

I can't see a name on the other one, but it is a large air vent. Unless the system is very large, it is the only vent in the system.

This tells me you have a Vapor system. This was the Cadillac of heating in its day, and is still one of the best out there. Get this book:

https://heatinghelp.com/store/detail/the-lost-art-of-steam-heating-revisited

Webster Vapor systems are covered in chapter 15.

EdTheHeaterMan

Ozmat said:

Thanks. Anyone in the Charlotte area? There are no company’s around here that work on this type of system. I do have the book, “We Got Steam Heat”, it has been very helpful. No way I trust anyone checking this system out after talking to some of these companies on the phone.

If anyone knows of someone around Charlotte to take a look, it would be appreciated.

I will send more pictures in a few days.

Thanks for all the information and wisdom.

I'm retired in Charleston SC (with a tropical storm on its way).
I'm also in a wheelchair, but if there is access I would be open to looking at this for you, the next time I head north. You will want to purchase this book before I get there. https://heatinghelp.com/store/detail/we-got-steam-heat-a-homeowners-guide-to-peaceful-coexistence