Steam release

john_24

When you replace those steam vents you may want to raise them up a little bit and being at the end of the run is going to shorten their life.

Bryan_5

Steam Vent

I have an old 2 pipe steam system. It is oil fired. Many of the internals of the boiler have been replaced over the last 10 years. I just bought this house in August and this is my first winter in my home so I dont know all of the quirks of my system yet. I did find something new however. It has been very cold here the last couple of days so the boiler has been running alot. The only thing I have done is repack a couple of my radiator valves.

Last fall I had a new Steam vent installed and I noticed yesterday that it is letting alot of steam out when the boiler is running. It is the copper one on the left in the picture. Prior to yesterday I never noticed any steam come out of the vents.

Also I noticed that the site tube is leaking steam as well. This has not happend before either. It is comming out of the top. I have tried tighting the tube and it has not made any difference. Is there a washer in there that may need replacing?
Any help would be appreciated
Bryan

Steamhead

Bryan, is this a Vapor system?

or does it have air vents on the radiators?

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Bryan_5

There are no vents on the radiators. Just the Valve on the inlet pipe and a return pipe

[Deleted User]

Congratulations.

That #75 lasted almost a full season. Better than the day or two that is normal. Try for a warranty. Good luck. Yes. There is a washer at the top and bottom of the boiler gage glass. Best to get someone who has the glass, washers, and glass cutting tool, to replace it.

Good luck.

Steamhead

A better vent for your Vapor system

would be the Gorton #2. I'll bet some dirt got into that Hoffman due to high air velocity, which is causing the leak. Both the Hoffman and the Dole are really too small for your system. Gorton's address is www.gorton-valves.com . If you can't find them in your area, contact the factory. Talk to Ken Kunz and tell him I sent you. He'll see that you get what you need.

But there's another issue here: Assuming both vents are on the dry return lines, why is steam reaching them in the first place? In most Vapor systems, there should be no steam at all in the dry returns.

If you wouldn't mind, post a pic of one of your radiators that has the original shutoff and return hardware. Those "return elbows" may have things in them that you'd never know were there. Or there may be orifices in the inlet valves- In this case you need to keep the pressure lower than about 8 ounces or so. Also verify that both vents are serving return lines rather than steam mains.

You've heard this from me before, but Vapor systems were the Cadillac of heating in their day and are still some of the best ever. Treat yours right and it will work well for many years.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Bryan_5

Steam Vent

Ok guys I have a couple of questions based on your response. First of all I am a complete novice when it comes to Steam and I want to have an idea how this stuff works. My first question is, if I am understanding you correct my brand new shiny $110 vent is shot? And Ron stated that valve usually only lasts a day or 2? Why would this be. I am really nervous about calling back the guy that put it on. It took him 2 months to get that part in the first place. This guy also said he put a new cumbustion chamber in about 5 years ago and that is warped. I dont expect that to last very much longer. He said not to worry about it this year. He also stated that I could just put some insulation under the cover and that would also stop any heat loss. Did I mention that he works for the Oil company! The more I read on this site the more I worry about finding a compatant person to work on my system.

As far as the preasure goes its running at about 1 1/2 psi. and about 3 ounces. I will post a pic of the radiator tommorrow. But I can tell you that the return elbow does have a hex nut on it so I dont doubt there is something inside there. Also what is the easiest way to verfiy what the pipes are with the vents. I can tell you this the pipe does go into the boiler and they are also the only pipes with any vents on them. Any help would be appreciated

Bryan_5

ONe more thing

I did repack 3 of my radiator valves with great success. NO more leaks. Dont know if this would have any impact on these other problems. My guess would be yes but then again this is only a guess

Bryan_5

2 more pictures

I will post a better radiator pic tommorrow

Bryan_5

Also wouldnt I need the Gorton 65? The 75 says that thats for water.

Steamhead

No, the 65 is a radiator vent

the #2 is the monster main vent. Go to

http://www.gorton-valves.com/specify.htm

to see the other Gorton steam system vents.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Bryan_5

Return

Steamhead,
Ok I am a little confussed. Didnt you say that the 2 vents in my pictures were return vents? I havent found any vents other than those 2. If I am understanding you correctly those would not be replaced with the Gator #2? Is the new valve that realeses steam shot? Just trying to geta grasp on my problem

Steamhead

I think they are

return vents. But to confirm this, follow the steam mains from the boiler until they end. If they end at one of the pictured vents, we have a bit of a problem.

The drop pipes from the vents join together above the waterline of the boiler. This isn't such a big deal if they're both returns, but if one or both are ends of steam mains there's nothing to keep steam from moving out of one pipe and into the other. This could close both vents before all the air is out of the system.

The solution, if needed, is to drop both pipes below the boiler's water level, then come back up into the Hartford Loop. Water will stay in the lower part of this arrangement, which will keep steam from jumping out of one pipe into the other.

Both of those vents should be replaced with Gorton #2s. I really think that new Hoffman is too small for your system.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Bryan_5

Not returns

Ok I followed the pipes and I am fairly sure they are the mains. I followed those pipes both vents are connected to the same pipe. When I follow the pipe to where it would go into the wall that is the one on the inlet side. The return pipe goes to the opposite side of the boiler. The pipe with the vents come out of the boiler goes up to the vents and then to each radiator. Your thoughts are appreciated thanks for the help. Also and this may sound like a dumb question but why has it worked for the last 80 years or so but its a problem now?

Steamhead

There's probably a vent on the return

that you haven't found yet. Keep looking, it's there.

80 years is a nice long time, but it's not uncommon for problems like this to pop up unexpectedly. First, remove the new Hoffman vent and wash it out. If it still leaks, boil it in vinegar to clean it.

If it still leaks, switch to Gorton #2 vents.

Going to Wetstock, so I'll be off the Wall for a few days.

www.gorton-valves.com

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Bryan_5

Radiator Pics

Steamhead,
The pictures of the radiator that you requested is attatched. I am curious to know a couple of things Do you beleive that the Hoffmann is broke? IF so is it because the pipes are not piped properly? or because its not appropriate for my system? I want to know what to tell my heat guy when he comes.

Bryan_5

Return lines

I also didnt notice any vents on the return pipes. Should there be vents on it?

Bryan_5

Ordered My Gorton's

Well I just ordered my new Gorton #2's Ken was very helpfull, thanks to Steamhead and everyone else for there help. The help that I have gotton from you guys has been tremendous. I did talk to my Heat contractor today and he had not heard of the Gortons I was not suprised. He said he got the Hoffmann because thats what the wholesaler told him to get based on PSI's rated at 10.
I did explain to him some of the things I learned here. My next problem is to find someone local that knows something about heat. He admitted to me that he only services 4 or 5 steam boilers. That kind of suprised me. This is a cold climate and there are a ton of old farm houses around much like mine. I guess my alternative is to learn as much about my heat as possible at least I know that I have the Wall if there are problems that I encounter.
Thanks again,
Bryan

[Deleted User]

Look at it like this...

There are lots of auto mechanics around, but not all of them are familiar with the Model T Ford...

Old steam is fun, simple (once you get the hang of it), and unforgiving.

I've read that steam heat is like the infant of heating systems, in that if something is a little wrong, it screams like a baby...

Noel

Bryan_5

I agree with you. I already find it fun. Now I want to go and find an expert. So I have someone that can get it running when it dies on me in the middle of January. I checked the find a contractor and the closest one is 40 miles so I will keep looking. Thanks again

Dave Palmer

be

nice to your full service oilman,he could be your best friend

Bryan_5

Found the problem w/my Hoffman

I went to go and clean that Hoffman until my new Gortons arived and found something very suprising in that vent. Where the main body is either welded or soldered together there is a small hole in the weld. Have any of you seen this before? Will I have the same problem when I put the new vents in? My preasure is about 1 1/2 psi cut in is 3oz cut out 8oz. Any thoughts?

dovross74836

adding a \"baseboard \" to steam system

was adding a basedoard 8 ft in parallel with a pipe of 15 ft long the system is "one pipe system",the problem it makes noise and water coming out from the air valve-slop 1/4" for a foot
someone told me have to make a return to the "retutn pipe of water to the boiler CAN SOMEone help??
Thanks-Dov Flushing NY 718-997 6804