Balancing my Steam System
I bought my first home in October with a 75 year old ARCO Capitol Sunray steam boiler that still runs great. The system itself needed some work. I had main air vents added as well as the wet returns repiped to connect below the water line. I also had a low pressure gauge added. All the radiator vents were incredible old or replaced with cheap hardware store vents. I have replaced the entire first floor with Gorton 5s, with the thermostat room using a Gorton 4. The upstairs is still using cheap USAV radiator vents and I'm trying to decide if I should replace them with Gorton 6s? Here is a simple diagram of my system. Please let me know if any other changes you would make as well! Any help is appreciated. Please note the boiler and piping is actually slightly closer to the right side of the home than it appears (bottom of diagram).
Comments
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Balancing once you have adequate main venting comes down to comfort. Are the upstairs rooms too cold relative to the downstairs? I would never put anything larger than a 6 on a radiator.
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Honestly I'd say it heats pretty balanced as is. Maybe some slightly behind but not much. The Gorton 4 in the thermostat room is definitely the slowest and rarely heats all the way up unless it's a long cycle. I guess I really just want to replace the upstairs vents because they are super noisy U S.A.V air vents. I just have no idea how much they vent compared to a Gorton. Basically I'm trying to decide if I should just put more Gorton 5s or bump to a 6 upstairs
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Maybe you get some kind of adjustable vent for upstairs such as MoM's with which you can use different orifice sized caps, or if you don't need to vent really fast use Ventrite #1's which are good quality adjustable vents. I'd suggest buy from Supplyhouse.com. Generally the larger the vent the more noise potential it has in my experience so I would either go adjustable or conservative on the venting, particularly in a bedroom. Also make sure your pigtail is clear and pressuretrol set to cutout at 1.5psi and cut in at 0.5psi.
I'm not familiar with a U S.A.V vent. Can you send a photo? Are they noisy throughout the cycle or just in beginning or after radiator full of steam?
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I will send a picture when I get home from work this evening. I believe they are just Chinese clone vents and same as Durst. One just says (USAV 880B). They make a loud click almost thunk noise when opening and closing. Yeah I'm think maybe I should go the Ventrite route with the adjustable vent. Trying to find these adjustable Maid O Mist valves any idea where to get them?
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https://www.supplyhouse.com/Jacobus-Maid-O-Mist-JAC-ORIPAK-Orifices-for-Retrofit-Pack-of-5
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Jacobus
No need to send photo of the Durst / USAV. I found them although no venting spec per say. You could take it off along with one of your Gorton #4's and #5's and do the highly scientific and repeatable blow through test and let your lungs gage the comparative venting rate😉
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Yeah so you can see why I'd prefer to replace them lol. I like the MoM design I think I might try those...much cheaper than the Ventrite variable vents. I assume the sizing on the MoM vents is virtually the same as Gorton considering they use the same designations?
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Yes, they are.
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That USAV is the same as the Watts SV, here:
and the venting rates are on page 12 here:
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting
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Okay so in-between a Gorton 4&5 but closer to a Gorton 5. I think I might replace them all with Venrite 1s...now I think the gorton 5s downstairs might be too much. For the mains they added are on the returns one is a Gorton 2 and the other is a Gorton 1.
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Thank you that is very helpful info
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Don't use an adjustable vent in the area where the thermostat is. Radiators near the thermostat must always heat at the same rate for the thermostat to respond properly.
The best place for the VR-1s is in bedrooms and other areas where you might want to keep cooler than the rest of the house.
All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
That makes sense. Alright I'll leave the gorton 4&5s downstairs for now and will replace the upstairs USAV vents with the VR1s. Appreciate it!
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