new crown gas fired steam boilers - water needed every week

ethicalpaul

 it isinsufficient, please replace with "a 3/4 street elbow to at least an 8" nipple. Put a Gorton #1 main vent on the end."

I would say "can you show me the new Hoffman main vent that you installed? What model number is it?"

It should be a #75 that looks like this:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Hoffman-401434-75-1-2-x-3-4-Straight-Steam-Main-Air-Valve-8038000-p?utm_source=google_ad&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_campaign=Shopping_X_Heating_X_SSC_ClassA&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_WAyu15jEgIsIaPfwyCBCVnJPvJ&gclid=CjwKCAiApY-7BhBjEiwAQMrrEWLkjZJ-xQWJWVLC09I-6Wnh5acXodz9WBAF1HgKWyA4gRndaPSZJRoCP7sQAvD_BwE

Just for your information, when we say a given vent is insufficient, we mean it is too small in venting capacity to successfully vent a main. We don't even know for sure if the vent above is large enough, but it sure looks to me like you have a radiator vent on your main currently and that would be too small. Plus it looks old. But you can tell better than I can from the photo.

And as I recall, the Hoffman main vent above is about the same capacity as the Gorton #1 so if they are in love with Hoffman and want to install that, that is fine.

The additional fittings, the elbow and nipple, are to physically isolate the vent from the main pipe to protect it from water in the main. This is pretty standard stuff that should not be a surprise for them.

redheadgenes

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827957#Comment_1827957

Hi @EdTheHeaterMan

Exactly. 2, 3, and 4 are correct. Boiler 2 was repiped, then had to be replaced. Same tradesman. New boiler still losing too much water.

In addition, I will ask for (per ethicalpaul:) "please replace with "a 3/4 street elbow to at least an 8" nipple. Put a Gorton #1 main vent on the end." I'll ask for this on both boilers. I can say one of the vents is just old. The other vent looks new, but ethical paul said its not a sufficient vent.

I am wondering why those vents are insufficient. So I have further backup info, when I ask the tradesman to change the insufficient vent. Sorry this thread got so long! Thanks for everything.

EdTheHeaterMan

@redheadgenes …. Long is good. That means that you are getting more ammunition. I am not a steam vent expert though. I am an oil burner expert that knows enough about Steam to be Dangerous. Perhaps one of the other Steam Boilers Experts can help you out on this one. @Steamhead @RayWohlfarth @clammy have much more steam experience and @ethicalpaul does a lot of studying on this subject.

ethicalpaul

keep in mind I am just looking at blurry photo. That’s why I said I would ask them what they installed. I don’t think I said to demand a specific vent.

I explained above what I mean when I say a vent might be insufficient. Please read my post above, it seems like you missed it

RayWohlfarth

I have included a pic of the main air vent suggested location. If it's

too close the end of the horizontal pipe, the condensate could hit it and destroy it fairly quickly.

delcrossv

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828119#Comment_1828119

This is best practice. Since your vent takeoff is at the ell on the end of the pipe, next best is to raise the vent not less than 8" above the ell. Higher is better.

As is, condensate will go straight into your vents and kill them in short order.

ethicalpaul

I would say it like "As is, if your boiler surges, water might go into the vent and carry some rust chunks into it will make it fail"

In normal operation the condensate gently rolls down the pipe and doesn't go anywhere but down. There is no "slug of water"

It's so cheap and easy to isolate the vents, though, I agree it's best practice to pipe it that way.

redheadgenes

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1827967#Comment_1827967

Thank you so much @ethicalpaul !!!

Waher

@redheadgenes wash any new sections of pipe you add with dish soap and rinse well prior to installation to remove any residual manufacturing oil. This will prevent issues with oil getting into your boiler water.