Pressuretrol setting on 1-way steam system

branimal · January 16

My cutout pressure is set at 2 psi and the cut in pressure is 1 psi. I was reading Dan Holohan's book, the Lost Art of Steam Heating, and read that I should set cut-in / cut-out at 1/2 and 1 1/2psi respectively.

System is ~200BTU Burnham installed in 2018. Near boiler piping and all the basement pipes are insulated. The building is a 3-family (3 story) in Brooklyn.

Should I change the cut-in / cut-out pressures?

Also what is this 2nd pressuretrol measuring (reads 10 psi)?

And what is the PSI gauge (Reads zero) for?

EBEBRATT-Ed · January 16

Leave it as is your fine.

The second pressure control is a manual reset high limit. It is only needed if the first control fails or is plugged up.

If you want you can remove the pressure gauge and install and additional low pressure gauge by adding a tee. Put both gauges back on. In the spring/summer remove the pressure controls and gauges and make sure all the connections and pigtails are clear. Replace any black pipe fitting for the controls and gauges with brass.

With the new LP gauge you will be able to see what pressure are running.

Pressure is only a concern if it is too high. No pressure or lo pressure is good.