I don’t think my single pipe steam system has a main

melo

I just noticed that my single pipe steam system doesn’t seem to have a main. It looks like it has one long run with T’s going to the first floor and second floor radiators.

The radiators themselves seems to be getting hot quickly enough. The end of the main radiator is the kitchen radiator and there seems to be a gorton vent on it. All the other radiators have the cheapo maid o mist.

Here is photo of the piping off the boiler.

Thoughts? Also noticed my boiler seems to run for 5 mins then turnoff for 1 minute before running again. I’m assuming it’s short cycling due to the vents being garbage at the radiators.

109A_5

Hello melo,

The " one long run " is the Main.

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828878#Comment_1828878

sorry I’m a moron

I meant to say that it doesn’t have a main vent!

109A_5

I was wondering, it may not, the system may benefit by installing one. Post a picture of the far end of the main. Your short cycling is probably due to an oversized boiler tripping off on pressure.

Steamhead

@melo , how long is the main, and what pipe size?

ethicalpaul

cheapo maid o mist

I think you meant to say: proudly made in the USA, design possibly copied by Gorton who tripled the price, happily passing air and stopping steam silently on thousands of radiators

But get real Maid O Mist for $12 from Supplyhouse.com , not the copycat ones at the big box stores

melo

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828888#Comment_1828888

you’re the first person to put it that way to be honest. I respect your opinion as you guys have been doing it for a while and would love to save money.

Why does maid o mist have bad reputation where I live? (Big eastern city).

Also, any issues with using the Hoffman adjustable vents?

BobC

You used to be able to buy buy a maid o mist kit that had the air valve and 5 orifices so you could select what size of vent for just a little more than the cost of the vent itself, made it easy to balance radiators. Now you have to buy the orifice kit (5 sizes) and the vent separately, still very handy for initial balancing of the system.

I've had MOM's on my system for over a decade with no failures.

ethicalpaul

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828904#Comment_1828904

trade pros get very opinionated about stuff 😅

delcrossv

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1829119#Comment_1829119

Yep. Seems Gorton has the east coast and Maid-o-mist is big in the Midwest. Like with hot water , everyone around here installs B&G.

Steamhead

Maid-o-Mist doesn't have a #2- have to buy Gorton for that size.

RTW

Mad O Mist vents based in Illinois and Gorton based in New Jersey, which may explain the geographical preference mentioned by poster, delcrossv ,above. That doesn't mean some company products aren't also made in China

Regards,

RTW

ethicalpaul

I don’t know what company you mean, but MoM boxes say “Made in USA”