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is it ever OK to not have a main vent???

Steamhead
Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
in THE MAIN WALL
on small coal-fired systems to not use main vents, because the coal fire burned all day. Once the air was out of the system it stayed out.

This is not the case with oil or gas firing. You have to get the steam to the end of the main before it starts rising to the radiators- this should happen in about a minute.

I add main vents to every steam system I work on that doesn't already have them, and resize a lot of existing ones. I've never run into a case where they didn't help!

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All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting

Comments

  • jim_14
    jim_14 Member Posts: 271


    I live in a row of 5 attached house built around 1950. They are basically the same layout, all one pipe steam systems. Apparently none have a main vent. One building inspector told me that the boiler was orginally an oil burner but then converted to gas. In any case ,is the absence of a main vent in this system a big deal? Or because its a small system in small house you can get away with it?
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,600
    It's really a question

    of speed and balance. Main vents help both. They also increase the life of radiator vents (while making them quieter) because the radiator vents don't have to work as hard.
    Retired and loving it.
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