Discovered vacuum steam running on pressure

motordiscord628

so my suspicions were confirmed today, my new to me house has a converted vacuum steam system with “vapor vacuum” brand valves and pick ups. Several of the valves have been abused and leak (under pressure…) and several others are busted. I’ve got my Holohon bibles but wanted to know what people think. I need to repair these valves but I also can’t seem to find an air vent in the system! System is currently slow to heat up and some of the radiators with wrecked valves done even show heat at the supply line but I can’t find evidence of a shut off anywhere else. Pressure control is extremely rudimentary. Boiler is a peerless 63-05

I’m professionally familiar with vacuum distillation systems and honestly I’d love to restore the vacuum function if I can. I’m assuming I can just repack these valves but I’m also assuming rebuild kits don’t exist… help?

109A_5

Hello motordiscord628,

Well who knows how far the system had been modified for the worse. I would try to find an original system diagram and repair the valves if possible. If the system was capable of utilizing a natural vacuum it probably would heat faster than having to push the air out on every cycle. Some air vents were actually in the flue.

mattmia2

It is a vapor system so the boiler needs a vaporstat that will keep the pressure under about 8 oz/in^2 (1/2 psig). The stops on the valves probably should not all be at the max. If the pressure isn't correct or the valves aren't limited to the correct positions based on the size of the radiator, you will get steam in the returns and that will likely prevent some radiators from venting through the return and heating.

Show us some pictures of the boiler, there is probably a device unique to that vapor system that also contains the vent.