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This weeks case,The Case of the Hissing Air Vent

RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,665
in THE MAIN WALL

I was tempted to call this case the Case of How Dan Holohan Saved My Marriage. It is probably an easy case for you to solve but it wasnt for me. I was an apprentice and we bought an old home with steam heat. I knew nothing about steam and that system used to wake us up all night long with Pssst. I asked all the journeymen about it and they suggested ripping it out. It led to arguments with the wife. It wasnt until my instructor at apprentice school leant me his copy of the Lost Art of Steam Heating and I found the issue.

Have at it Detectives. As usual I wont post any replies until the video is released Friday morning.

Ray

Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons

Comments

  • retiredguy
    retiredguy Member Posts: 985

    My first 2 guesses , is that the boiler's operating steam presure was set way too high and/or the main line vents did not work or were non-existent, thereby making the rad vents do all the venting.

    mattmia2
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,893

    It was the "inhale" at the end of a call for heat so you installed a vacuum breaker in the basement

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    mattmia2
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,626

    Was it the pet rattlesnake?

    And of course my favorite whistling comment to the customer is . It forgot the words so it just whisltes along. Your radiator was trying to whistle with a lisp. PSSSTPTTSSSTTPsstpt.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    GGross
  • retiredguy
    retiredguy Member Posts: 985

    @EdtheHeaterMan; I like the humor; "Your radiator was trying to whistle with a lisp. PSSSTPTTSSSTTPsstpt".

  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,665

    Well @retiredguy you nailed it again. Congrats The main air vent was missing. I learned about steam at my house.

    @ethicalpaul Not on this one but have installed vacuum breakers on brewery steam systems

    @EdTheHeaterMan LOL made me laugh

    Thanks everyone

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
    ethicalpaul

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