Is there any way to add a float valve to a Big Mouth vent?
A few years ago a contractor replaced my Gorton 2 main with a Big Mouth. Naturally, some time after that was an incident where the system flooded and water came pouring out of that valve! (More contractors)
Since the valve has a threaded 3/4-in exhaust port, I was wondering if there was some sort of float valve that could be mounted onto it? If not I might go back to the Gorton.
Comments
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find out how water got that high?
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The last time It was Moe, Larry and Curly changing the flue liner and accidentally flipped open the fill valve. I have since removed that handle. Another time it was a confused tenant trying to be helpful.
I consider the float valves like seat belts, a safety measure that you hope you never need but wouldn't like to do without.
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how is that a safety measure?
Filling the system with water is the problem.
if a breaker trips you don’t install a larger breaker you find out why.
apparently you know the cause so correct that.
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unless it is a 2 pipe system(in which case you could vent it in to a dry return), if you put floats on the vents in the basement and someone floods the system, it will just come out a radiator vent or valve packing somewhere up higher which will be worse.
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The float valve IS the breaker in this analogy! You're advocating doing without breakers and just don't overload or short circuit.
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One reason I prefer the big Gortons over the Big Mouth…
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
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@ethicalpaul said the floats don't actually float.
If that's the case...
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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no I’m not
Fix the problem!
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Yeah the “float” in the #1 definitely sinks like a stone. I haven’t opened a #2 to test it but if someone sends me a broke one I will.
Gorton almost never calls it a float (but I think I caught them saying at one place deep in their web site).
NJ Steam Homeowner.
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
Isn't that the discussion where I posted a video showing the float in a Jacobus working just fine? I have the pulled Gorton 2 sitting right in front of me, maybe I'll do a video of that too.
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Last I heard, you can't fix 'stupid'! Every time it has flooded has been a human error. I don't live at this property to stand guard over the boiler every moment.
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maybe, my memory is garbage. I might have to amend to say “they can work but they don’t float” 😅
NJ Steam Homeowner.
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
so if someone **** off the emergency switch you’ll bypass it?
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Don't know if this will work for you but you could run some PVC like 1 1/4" to a drain from the trap location. Then pipe 3/4" into the pvc but leave an air gap.
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Thanks, I was thinking of something like that. But would be real SOB getting that pipe to a drain.
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Do this 👆
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Huh. Seems pretty interesting! I'm trying to wrap my head around using the low water cutoff to de-energize the zone valve. It does make sense. But then, so does two Gorton 2's, and a lot less complicated.
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Sounds like you answered your own question 🤣🤪
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My bet is the 'Float' in a Gorton 2 will NOT close the valve, not enough trapped air for the weight involved.
National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
One Pipe System0 -
I won't bet on this after seeing the video mentioned above (that I had forgotten about). But my question is, would you rather have the water falling on your basement floor, or would you rather the main vent closed and the water continued filling up the whole system and shooting out of (probably multiple) radiator vents?
I guess the radiator vents spewing water would be easier to notice, provided someone was home at the time but for me, I'd rather my basement floor got wet.NJ Steam Homeowner.
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el1 -
Well, the main is behind the wall of a basement apartment, so it's not without consequence.
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I'm not at all sure there is a good answer to this one. I do know that a Gorton #2 will shut off on high water — or at least the one on the system Cedric powers will — as it has done so, once when the autofeeder went loopy and overfilled the system.
That, however, does not really answer the fundamental problem, which is how does one protect a system from overfilling. Keeping the autofeeder, if you have one, in good shape and operating properly is more or less obvious — but so long as there is the possibility of a manual feed, someone, sometime, is going to overfill the system — as in the OP's case. You can keep it from running in an overfill condition — the pressure controls should do that. But preventing the condition? Hmm…
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England2 -
Maybe a redundant water feeder?
I'd still go with the Gorton.
Baltimore, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting1 -
Well there’s your problem! 😉
NJ Steam Homeowner.
See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el0 -
Well, there's the setup @Danny Scully linked. About $400 in gear, and I can't see where they placed the sensor. In a tee off the return somewhere presumably.
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Unless the widget can positively shut off the errant automatic feeder, or close a valve that got left open somehow… is it going to do what's needed?
Better have it arranged to activate a LOUD alarm.
Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0
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