I’m assuming these aren’t steam air vents

melo

Dad got some work done at the house. He needed to cap an existing pipe but it wasn’t getting warm even though it’s inside the wall for now. He can’t remove the line as it would involve taking apart multiple walls from the basement.

The worker put the air vent shown on the photo. Seems like when the steam (single system) boiler kicks on, this air vent doesn’t stop hissing. Continues to hiss loudly and let out air and probably steam along with it.

This line is coming from one of the main lines out of the boiler.

My question is:
What size Gorton or Hoffman valves should I be looking for?

Is it possibly okay for me to cap this for now? When it was capped before this vertical 15’ run from the basement stayed cold. Which wasn’t a bad thing but he wasn’t sure if it was going to be a problem in the long run.

Thoughts?

mattmia2

looks like a steam vent. is it hot when it is still open? where is the vent for the active section of that pipe? if there is a vent on that section of main and none of this section of pipe has any emitters on it, you can cap it.

STEAM DOCTOR

Looks like a home Depot special.

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1820067#Comment_1820067

Would I have to take that whole fitting for the air vent off or can I just get a 1/8” or 1/2” plug and put that in after removing the vent?

STEAM DOCTOR

No need to remove the fitting. Just unscrew the vent and plug. Hard to tell from picture. Would guess it's quarter inch. But might as well have both size plugs on hand. Make sure the system is off while you are doing this.

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1820084#Comment_1820084

Hi,

This also wouldn't be an issue I'm assuming? This is sort of how this pipe is right now, please see attached photo.

There is also an issue #2, where an existing vertical pipe was extended to the second floor to eliminate bunch of horizontal runs made with the issue #1 pipe, hence why it was removed and we're looking to have it hidden.

Are 2 air vents an issue? the one installed on the top was hissing too, so I'm not sure if 2 is needed when there is already one tapped on the side.

Waher

use a brass plug so it won’t corrode itself into being welded closed if you ever need that riser to be put back into service

KC_Jones

You only need venting where you want steam to go. If that pipe is in a wall and not being used for space heating, then cap it off, it won't hurt anything.

I'd also add that anywhere you have a vent of any kind should remain permanently accessible as vents fail sometimes and need replaced. The picture you show looks like it's inside a wall, if it's kept, don't close the wall up.

ethicalpaul

No need to remove the fitting. Just unscrew the vent and plug.

I think @STEAM DOCTOR means "Just unscrew the vent and then screw in a plug". You can't unscrew a plug that isn't there, @STEAM DOCTOR 😉

(I'm teasing of course, I know you meant "plug" as a verb but it reads rather confusing)

Jamie Hall

A further thought… if the vent is hissing — or other vents are — check what pressure your boiler shuts off at. Should be around 1.5 to 2 psig.

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1820099#Comment_1820099

Hi, can you look at my other sketch. I have one steam pipe that goes up to the second floor, about 20' from the main branch in the basement. I have 2 vents, one is tapped on the top of the first floor and I have another vent on the very top of the steam pipe.

Can I just cap the top of the pipe? Since there is an air vent tapped to the pipe about 8' before the highest point of the vertical pipe?

KC_Jones

I see a pipe going up with 2 vents on it, but no indication of a radiator. Is the pipe being used as an emitter, or is there a radiator somewhere beyond those vents you didn't call out?

Again, look at what you have and decide what needs to be heated, if it needs heated, then it needs a vent.

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1820176#Comment_1820176

No radiator, its just a vertical pipe that goes to the second floor to heat the bathroom.

delcrossv

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1820183#Comment_1820183

In that case, you'll want to keep the one on the end (and maybe lose the lower one)

dabrakeman

If the bathroom is too hot, lose the lower one. If it is not, keep them both.

melo

The bathroom gets super hot but worse the valves I have on right now seems to be hissing like a jet engine, I don't even know if it's the right valve.

What is a good valve I can put here to basically just release the air then close off for the steam. I understand there are different types of steam valves that can be used. This one is close the boiler so it gets hot fast and quickly… It gets really hot.