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Dunham trap lifespan?

guzzinerd
guzzinerd Member Posts: 244
edited February 2023 in Strictly Steam


There was an inch of dust on top of this cap.  Radiator's cold.  How likely is it that i need to replace the innards?
Bryant 245-8 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains.  26 radiators heating up 3800sqf.

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,088
    Unless it has been abused, it's probably fine -- but it's easy to check. With the system running for some time -- long enough for the radiator in question to be fully hot -- three possibilities. The radiator doesn't heat. Trap failed closed. The radiator does heat, and the return pipe is also steam hot (not hot, but steam hot). Trap is failed open. Radiator does heat, return pipe not above 207 or so. Trap is fine.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    guzzinerd
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 244
    Unless it has been abused, it's probably fine -- but it's easy to check. With the system running for some time -- long enough for the radiator in question to be fully hot -- three possibilities. The radiator doesn't heat. Trap failed closed. The radiator does heat, and the return pipe is also steam hot (not hot, but steam hot). Trap is failed open. Radiator does heat, return pipe not above 207 or so. Trap is fine.
    Thanks.  The radiator did heat up until a few days ago. The tenant told me "was working fine until you started messing with the boiler" 🙄

    Pretty sure no one has touched the traps for decades, just gonna rebuild/replace them all.
    Bryant 245-8 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains.  26 radiators heating up 3800sqf.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,056
    There is no life span for traps. They can and will outlive us all,,,,,as long as you can get parts.
    guzzinerdLong Beach Ed