hot do I test the pressurtrol cut-out?

Tim Gardner

I have read the one-pipe steam sections of Dan Holihan's "The Lost Art of Steam Heating", so I understand that the system is supposed to cycle on and off.

Mine just stays on until the temperature gets up to the thermostat setting, at least it did when I tested it today, taking the house from 65 to 75. The pressure gauge showed zero the whole time. The honeywell PA404A is set for cut-in at the lowest setting, 0.5, and I believe the differential is set to the lowest setting as well, about 1.5 if I am reading it correctly.

I took off a radiator vent and could feel the dry steam coming out, but I don't know what 1.5 psi feels like so I don't know if it was more or less than this.

Perhaps I have a leak in the system? Perhaps the pressuretrol and the gauge are both broken? Does it take more than an hour to work up more than 1.5 psi?

I'm not sure what to check next.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tim