Pressuretrol vs Vapor Stat

Fmassarotto_9

Is it true that a vaporstat can make any unknown problems clearly visible? I’m aware many steam experts recommend a vaporstat over a pressuretrol, i picked one up today from a local hardware store and the guy told me word for word “make sure your vents are working because if they aren’t this will make it very apparent”. i’m a little hesitant now so any input would be appreciated 

dko

What was the reason for changing now? Do you currently have an issue with the steam?

Fmassarotto_9

dko said:

What was the reason for changing now? Do you currently have an issue with the steam?

The boiler cuts out a little before 1 PSI but then never comes back on, been having this for a few days, took off the face plate and push the mercury bulb down, the boiler works perfectly fine as long  as the pressuretrol doesn’t cut the boiler out. 

Dan_NJ

Wouldn't making vent problems more apparent ultimately be a good thing so you can correct those problems?  You can always switch back to the pressurtrol if needed right?

Jamie Hall

It's a little more complicated than that. First thing I'd do is find out why the existing pressuretrol doesn't come back on. If it's a mercury type, the mechanism is pretty close to goof proof, so I'd be very much inclined to wonder if it is set properly (cutin or cutout minus differential greater than 0.5 psi__ and if the pigtail to the boiler is clear all the way into the boiler.

Now as to vapou rstat vs. pressuretrol, the only real difference (other than that the modern ones don't use a mercury switch) is in the pressure range at which they can operate. In general, the common pressuretrol will not be reliable with a cutin of less than 0.5 psi and a cutout of much less than 1.5 psi. There are two vapourstat models -- one 0 to 4 psi and one 0 to 16 ounces. They have correspondingly lower cutin and cutout pressures.

Whether any one of them will make a vent problem more visible depends entirely on the range you set them too. None of them will make a problem either better or worse, however.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Your cut in pressure is probably set too low. You need to decrease the differential or raise the cut in depending on what control you have.

If someone lowered the setting too much the screw may be loose causing issues

Steamhead

I agree with @Jamie Hall . First thing to do is to check the pigtail. Turn off the power. Remove the Pressuretrol and blow into the pigtail. If you can't blow through it, there's your problem.

If the pigtail is plugged, and it's steel, replace it with a brass one. If it's already brass, remove it, stick one end into the spout of your laundry sink faucet and turn the water on slowly. Make sure the other end is pointed into the sink. If the clog isn't blown out, stick the other end into the spout. This might get a bit messy but will clear it out.

Neild5

The mercury pressuretrols have to be installed level left to right and front to back to work properly. 

Mad Dog_2

Whatever you do, don't get rid of the Mercury Control..the new non-merc ones are nowhere near as accurate mad Dog 🐕 

BobC

When I had my Smith steam boiler installed I removed the Vaporstat from the Burnham and had it put on the mew Smith G8. Knowing that rust never sleeps I put Steam Master into the Smith when it was new and a decade later the water is clean with a very light tint so I'm hoping that Smith outlasts me.

Bob