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Vent or trap?

guzzinerd
guzzinerd Member Posts: 290
edited January 15 in Strictly Steam
Found a couple of traps bridging my main and return lines high up on each side of the boiler.

I ordered rebuild kits but now wondering if they are being used as vents, can't I just plug the returns and put vents on the mains??  These haven't been serviced since installed decades ago and can just imagine the amount of steam they're letting into the return.



The moisture at the base is just penetration oil.

Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,018
    Thos are called crossover traps, and they are essential to the operation of the whole system. The rebuild kits will be a LOT cheaper than the equivalent vents.

    However, go back to near the boiler and make sure that the main vents on the dry returns there are big enough and operating.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • guzzinerd
    guzzinerd Member Posts: 290
    edited January 15
    Jamie Hall said:
    Thos are called crossover traps, and they are essential to the operation of the whole system. The rebuild kits will be a LOT cheaper than the equivalent vents. However, go back to near the boiler and make sure that the main vents on the dry returns there are big enough and operating.
    I installed a new Gorton #2 near the boiler last year and there's the Dunham 9a that seems to be working ok as well.

    Rebuild kits for the cross overs are on the way from Nick at the Steam Depot, what a great guy.

    Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf

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