Homeowner help, 2-pipe steam system, circa 1914

JD_2

Hello:

I own a 1914 home with it's original steam heating system, installed by Trane. The boiler was probably last replaced about 40 years ago. For the most part, it heats fine. This web site has been a big help to me in understanding the system.

I have three problems/questions:

1) I have a lot of water hammer. I think the traps are probably the culprit from reading your web site. Is this something I can check and maintain myself? None of the heating people in my area knows much about steam heat. If I can do this, where should I go for parts?

2) This is my third winter in the house. This year, for the first time, I occasionally have a steam 'popup' on the main steam line that doesn't 'pop'... so it sprays steam in the basement instead of heating. Should I follow the recommendations on cleaning the vents? Usually if I turn the thermostat down and back up, this problem fixes itself. However, I'm concerned about what will happen if I'm not home sometime -- will this continue until the boiler runs dry?

3) Finally, should a boiler with this kind of mileage on it be replaced even if it is functioning?

Thanks so much for any help and/or suggestions.

JD

Steamhead

It's Hard to Stop all these Tranes

from coming out of the woodwork! Where are you and this grand old system located?

Bad traps can cause banging, but so can a few other things. If the banging is in the dry (overhead) return, it's probably due to bad traps. Feel the return- it should be cool or warm, but not steam-hot. If you find it is steam-hot, try to find which radiator return the steam is coming from. That's probably the one with the bad trap. If the traps have never been maintained, it makes sense to put new innards in all of them. You can get them from Tunstall or Barnes and Jones- both make good equipment.

The "Pop-up" is actually an air vent. These, like traps, eventually wear out. I like to use Gorton #2 vents on Vapor systems, they have 4 times the capacity of the original Trane vents which works great now that we're no longer burning coal.

The Trane Vapor system is covered in Dan's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating Companion". Steam heating in general is covered in "The Lost Art of Steam Heating". Both are available on the Books and More page of this site.

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JD_2

Thanks for info

Steamhead:

Actually, not out of the woodwork -- out of the brickwork -- the pipes go through my double-brick-wall construction!

I will check on your question and respond about the return pipes. I am located in Bluffton, OH. The closest contractor I could find on this site is 100 miles. I have the original trane quote and blueprints if anyone is interested. I have requested a library copy of all of Dan's books, and am waiting for them to be returned. My system originally ran on steam from the college across the road. Then they converted to a coal boiler, then to our current natural gas boiler.

If you want to make the service call fromout East, let me know!!!

JD

Mark Bagdon

2-pipe banging

I have a sinmilar system in my house circa 1935. If you have drip traps at the end of the steam mains, be sure to check them. I had banging on warm-up because one of these traps was bad. It went away when I replace the innards.

Mark Bagdon

Steamhead

Between Lima and Findlay, right?

I passed thru that area on my way to Michigan a couple months back! If I'd only known..........

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JD_2

maybe next time?

Yes, right between Lima and Findlay -- very surprising -- not many people would know that.

If you're ever in the area again, I'd be glad to pay for some of your time.

JD