2 Pipe steam?

Travis G.

I was on a jod today that was 2 pipe steam heat. Why is there no steam traps and why out of all the radiators (13 in all)there were only vente on the upstairs and not on the downstairs radiators. The ones on the first floor heated up fine without air vent but the ones on the second floor with air vents heated extreamly slow?

Unknown

What's downstairs?

Do the downstairs ones tie into a wet(on the floor) return, or a dry (high) return? Where do the upstairs radiators tie in to the returns?

Tell us about the basement piping.

Noel

Steamhead

That's Vapor

it either has water seals in the bushings, or orifices in the shutoffs. Air from the radiators goes into a dry return and out thru a main vent in the basement.

Those second floor radiators should not have vents. They now have air coming at them from both directions- thru the steam AND the return lines.

Check the dry (overhead) return for a vent. You should find a rather large one. If not, or if the existing one is bad, put a Gorton #2 on it and watch the difference!

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Phillip Biston

That sounds like a system that I have in a building. Does the main run between the first and second floor? and is there only one pipe going into the upstairs radiators? is there a pipe running down from the main to the first floor rad's and then into a return?. It may be a combination 1&2 pipe system, and the only way I know of to work on this type of system is to work on it as 2 systems. If anyone has any info on something like this I would appreciate it also!.

Thanks,
Phillip

Travis G.

basement pipes

The basement pipeing are high returns. The boiler was repleced 2 years ago. The radiators have a shut off valve at the top and a low pipe on the bottm on the other side. The plumber who chaged this boiler used copper instaed of steam. Should I remove all of the vents and put in plugs? I adjusted the anticipater and leveled the themostat. Then I ran the heat and all the radiators worked fine. But I always follow what Dan H. say. If you do something stupid you will be rewarded. I know alot about one pipe steam but I have never really had the opportunity to work with 2 pipe. I wish the dead men who taught me about steam were still around. Steam is my favorite kind if heat to work on. I will get some pictures and have them posted. Thank you Noel and Steamhead.