New Steam Boiler with Broomell Radiators

Jim_45

I had a big old Richardson steam boiler in my home with 2-pipe Broomell radiators with the Broomell cylinder receiver/plunger (vaporvac) next to the boiler and the ceiling mounted condensing radiator with the pipe to the chimney. I recently had it replaced with a Weil-McLain STGO-7. When I fire it up, the radiator inlet valves (they have that little handle that turns and plunges) put out steam and water. Some radiators put out more than others. I turned down the vaporstat to 8 oz from 1psi and it still does it it. I have looked for vents on the returns in the basement and I don't see any. I emailed one of "The Walls" regulars and he confirmed my thoughts that the leaky radiator valves were due the lack of vents in the dry returns since the old condensor and chimney pipe were removed. I guess the air in the system needs to be released so the steam can make it through? He recommended the Gorton #2. I had also read another thread about vents on the steam mains. I have two mains leaving from the boiler (3-1/2") but they do not end--they meet on the other side of the basement forming a square loop. It is essentially a square with the boiler sitting in the middle of one side. The basement return pipe (1-1/2) parellels the mains but only one end returns to the boiler. There is also a wet return from one corner of the steam mains. Prior to the new boiler, the system (though inefficient) worked well. It was quiet, heated the house, and did not have any steam coming out of the radiators.

Questions:
Do I just need the vents on the return, near the boiler and not on the steam main? Is this square loop a common system?

What is actually in that radiator inlet plunger?

Is it difficult to clean the radiator "traps"? There is just a hex nut on the return coming off the radiator (I saw a picture of it on an earlier thread). I doubt they have been cleaned in years.

Out of curiosity, how would the old "vaccuum" system work if the returns were vented up the chimney?

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Dan's book, but it is starting to get cold here and so I ask for your help.

TGO_48

Broomell

Is there any chance of the condensing radiator being reconnected to the system and chimney? If not you will have to add vents to the mains. How is the boiler piped? If the near boiler piping is incorrect you will have wet steam and no amount of vents will cure that. Any chance of posting photos of the system - they are a big help in trouble shooting.

Jim_45

Follow-up

I am working on some pictures. Here is a rough diagram. The dotted circles mean the pipes are mounted on the ceiling. I left off the water feed. Thanks

Jim_45

New Steam Boiler and Broomell Rads with pix

The old condensing radiator and vent are gone. Attached are pictures of the new system (and old) that show the piping. No vents on the mains or returns. The radiators have those little pocket water traps. There is one newer radiator in the house that looks like a converted hot water rad. It heats up fine. There are also two base board rads that put out a lot of steam at a screw type valve at one end. One of the real problem radiators is one that comes first off of one of the mains.

Robert O'Connor_4

I have restored a couple

Broomell systems with success. (All credit goes to "The Lost Art...").

You need megavents at the point the dry return drops to the boiler. The systems I worked on didn't have the condensing radiator or chiney vent any more.

By piping gthe header, equalizer and the vents at the end of the return I was able to make two of them work excellantly.
They seem to like no more that 8 oz's .

"The Lost Art..." will tell you everything.

Regards,

Robert

Steamhead

Jim, the Gorton #2

is the mega-vent you need. I just finished putting two on an old Hutchison Vapor system, and it heated properly for the first time in who knows how many years.

www.gorton-valves-com

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

Jim_45

Thanks

We temporarily put two Hoffman vents on the returns near the boiler and what a difference. The air was blowing right out of there. We are going to put two larger ones this week. The vaporstat is on 8 oz and the radiators heat right up. No more steam coming out of the inlets. After scrapping off the paint down to the metal I found how the throttle inlet valves work. On the top, the side closest to the radiator is engraved "open" and opposite is "Shut". I could only make out out the depressed round holes with the paint still on. In between open and shut I have some room to adjust. I also opened some of the p-traps (they are very tight) and made sure the little hole was not clogged. Thanks for everyone's help (both on and off the Wall).

Jim_45

Thanks

We temporarily put two Hoffman vents on the returns near the boiler and what a difference. The air was blowing right out of there. We are going to put two larger ones this week. The vaporstat is on 8 oz and the radiators heat right up. No more steam coming out of the inlets. After scrapping off the paint down to the metal I found how the throttle inlet valves work. On the top, the side closest to the radiator is engraved "open" and opposite is "Shut". I could only make out out the depressed round holes with the paint still on. In between open and shut I have some room to adjust. I also opened some of the p-traps (the plugs are very tight) and made sure the little hole was not clogged. Thanks for everyone's help (both on and off the Wall).