Two-Story Riser on One-Pipe Steam System

Steamhead

1. The riser is undersized for the amount of radiation on it.

or

2. One of the runouts from the riser to a radiator is off-pitch, trapping water.

or

3. The air vents on the radiators are too big and condensate can't drain back against the rushing steam. This condition can also be caused by a missing or too-small vent on the steam main.

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Andy Williams

Two-Story Riser on One-Pipe Steam System

HELP!

I have a steam riser running from the basement boiler to the finished attic in my two-family house. It is the only pipe with water hammer, the water hammer is during start-up mostly. The pressuretrol is set to about 1.5 psig. The other risers (though only going to the second floor) have no water hammer. There are two radiators on this riser. I cannot see the piping completely, but it is probably a tee at the top of the riser in the attic floor with branches to the radiators. The radiator air vents are venting OK, no steam spitting out. This riser is the closest to the boiler. The boiler was replaced before I bought the house, looks about 10-15 years old.

Any suggestions on what to check or adjust?

My first floor tenant is going bonkers!!!

THANKS!

Big Ed

Water Puddle

Try raising both of the radiators and make sure radiators are pitched to the supply pipe.. Water is laying some where.