adding a main vent in living space

michael_15

My house has steam heat on the second floor. I've put a very rough sketch of it below. The radiator on the far left is always the last to heat -- usually not hot all the way through by the end of the boiler cycle. It's on its own main that doesn't have a vent (the main vent on the other main, as a digression, looks pretty wimpy -- like a radiator vent screwed into the main).

I'm assuming this is likely the problem. In any case, there's no convenient place to put on a main vent except, well, right next to the radiator in the bedroom it sits in. Right now, the main runs along the floor of the bedroom for a good 4-5 feet (with a shutoff valve in the middle) before reaching the radiator. If I didn't care for cosmetics, would it work functionall to hire someone (I certainly don't do this stuff myself) to cut the pipe and add a "T"-type junction with a main vent coming out vertically? Or is the main vent potentially not the problem at all?

Thanks,

Jason_13

Venting

I assume there is a vent on the radiator.
You could have your contractor install a tee and vent in that long main. By venting the main the radiator will heat better and faster. How long is the main to that radiator? Is it sloping uphill or downhill from the boiler. Your drawing says the main is long. My concern is condensate.

Mark W

Main vent

If it is a relatively long run to that radiator, a main vent teed in near the radiator *might* do the trick. However, you also need to consider other factors such as lack of insulation on the piping, radiator pitch, failing/undersized radiator vent, or undersized shutoff valve to the radiator.

Definitely replace the main vent in the basement with a good, high quality main vent if it is indeed as you describe.

Additionally, if your near boiler piping is as you have drawn, it is not correct, and may be a contributing factor to the issues you are having. A good steam expert should be able to do a thorough inspection of the system for you, and offer suggestions to get your system to 100%.

michael_15

venting

There is a vent on the radiator. It used to squirt a bundle, but I shimmed the radiator a little and replaced the vent and now it just hisses. The main is probably a good 15-20 feet horizontally plus a vertical portion which is around 10-12 feet.

The piping by the boiler, by the way, isn't as drawn. The return line drops below the water line, then rises and tees off -- one leg back into the boiler and one leg into the main steam line.

-Michael

Mark W

Based on your description

it sounds like a main vent installed as you proposed previously would do the trick. Try the "Find-a-Contractor" feature to see if there's a steam expert near where you live.

Unknown

Hey, Mark

Long time no see! How have you been?

I'm at 800 873 4346, ex 456 now. If you ever want to chat, ring me up in the daytime.

Noel