Evidence of Knucklehead's work?

Peter Anastacio

Hello-

This is my first post here, I ordered the great little book "We got Steam Heat!", I've learned so much about steam heat that I can finally sleep peacfully at night without worrying about every little clank and pop (most are gone now). Knowledge truly IS power!

The reason for my post is that I want to know if someone who's knowlegeable can tell from the attached photos

1) More info on my system than "Snow man" or Asbestos incapsulated. I know it's a one pipe system.

2) What is the that nail sticking up out of that other unidentifiable object on top of the snowcone.

3) where, if any, the main vent(s) is/are? I am inclined to believe that I don't have any, and it appears that the knuckleheads may have placed a steel plug on a tee?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Ken_8

Pete,

1) A "snowman" type is a coal boiler that is designed to burn coal - not gas. The gas burner was inserted before you were likely born, when fuel was the same price as milk (and still is - nearly). If it is capable of 50% AFUE, that would be a "kind" estimate.

2) The nail appears to be tacked onto a linkage clevis and the linkage is missing. Probably part of the coal damper modulation chain and beam apparatus that is lost to antiquity and/or obscurity; and now rather moot.

3)The tee in your photo does NOT imply a missing vent with a plug, but merely a point some old riser may have been, that was removed during an ancient remodel before your time. The point at which the ENDS of the two branched mains you did photograph (not the tee), should have a "main vent" at EACH end (of the teed two shown in your photo). In small houses with only a few rads, I have seen NO MAIN VENT AT ALL, and the system worked fine. This is very rare, but perhaps your situation?

There are significant safety issues with a gas power burner of that age. There are also some issues with the controls and basic form of the snowman depicted. Before we get into the real cold weather, you may want to try the "find a contractor" resource up on the top left of the website and get some estimates on a replacement. If it craps out this winter, at least you'll know what your in for and who you'd like to do the job?

ASHRAE tells us the average steam boiler life is around 20 years. Your boiler is at least 60! I would line up your "ducks" now. It's not a matter of "if" it will die; it is a matter of when. Murphy's Law suggests it will die on Christmas Eve, on a Saturday morning, with it -10°F outside.

If not now, at least be prepared for this winter. Good luck lad!

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Mark Hunt

Unidentifiable object


Your system is a coal/gas conversion. That object on top was used as a control device for the coal fire.

It used to have a lever arm and counter balance on it and as the steam pressure increased, the diaphram would lift the lever arm which was connected to a damper via a chain and close the air damper thus causing the coal fire to burn less hot. As the pressure dropped, the arm would drop and the air damper would open.

Not sure why there is a nail in it.

Main air vents would be located at the end of the steam main. I have seen systems where they were left out.

Not all of the dead men were equal!

Mark H

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Peter Anastacio

> In small houses

> with only a few rads, I have seen NO MAIN VENT AT

> ALL, and the system worked fine. This is very

> rare, but perhaps your situation?


Thanks for the information, very useful. My house is a small 3br 1bth, in total I have 3 rads on 1st floor and 4rads on 2nd floor. Myabe that explains why the main vents is 'missing'.

Dale

Save the gauge

When you junk this old pancake save the pressure gauge and send it to Dan, will be a good fundraising item. My opinion of the nail item was the coal vent balance beam to control draft and heat output.

gerry gill

the objects name was

''damper regulator'' and it did just what the others describe.

DanHolohan

Thanks for reading me

and for finding your way here. Smart guys here, eh?

Peter Anastacio

Freeman & Clancy Gauge worth anything?

Here's a pic of the gauge, "Freeman & Clancy" Maynard, MA (my hometown) Pat Pending Dec. 10, 1910, has the 2lbs mark clearly shown corroborating everything Dan says about the 2psi.

When I get rid of this 'pancake', I'll let Dan know.

Peter

Peter Anastacio

Smart Guys? Brilliant!

Dan-

Yep! No knuckleheads here!

Peter

Mark Hunt

Good!!!!


Dan will help you carry it out!!!!!!


Mark H

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Unknown

Sorry

I think you are on the right track. I'd like to help however, not enough help right now;-(

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Steamhead

Even in these small systems

I find that adding main vents always makes them work faster and more evenly- even with an old snowman like that one.

It may be possible to make that boiler less inefficient- go here:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=151

to read about a similar one that I did. But you don't want to try this yourself! Have a pro handle it, with the right test equipment. This will not approach the efficiency of a new boiler, but will help you save for the replacement job.

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