Vent or trap?

guzzinerd

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.

Jamie Hall

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.

guzzinerd

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.