Steam Traps

Zorian Pinsky

How to verify that my steam traps are not "failed open"?

How practical to be able to detect temperature drop of 10-15 deg. on a pipe downstream of the steam trap?

Wouldn't heat from radiator be conducted to the steam trap body and the downstream pipe? So, to detect the temperature drop would be difficult?

How long do steam traps last?

How failed open steam traps affect fuel consumption?

Al Letellier

failed steam traps

Zorian, you can usually tell by temp and sound if a trap has failed, but the only sure way is to observe the discharge of the trap. IF and it's a big IF the trap was properly installed with a strainer, isolation valve and a downstream union, you can break the union and watch the discharge. If not, you can either install one or trust the temp gauge. How long a trap lasts is totally dependent on the amount of use and if it's protected by a stainer. We have several large commercial buildings that are on a three year maintenance program, but it's only a heating system with no process steam. Every system is different, and regularity of service can make a huge difference. Addressing economy is a no-brainer...failed traps cost a lot of wasted energy. The boiler(s)runs more, more water is added to the system, more maintenance is required, and on and on.
If you don't have unions, a good temp gauge and a stethescope can help alot to find bad traps. Good luck.

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Zorian Pinsky

Failed Steam Traps

Al,

My system is residential and the traps are of Trane or Barnes Jones type.

Would you recomend manufacturers for the temperature gauge?

What kind of stethescope I would use and how? What would I listen for?

Thank you.

Steamhead

That's probably a Trane Vapor system

On this type of system, the easiest way to check for bad traps is to feel the dry (overhead) return. This return should not have any steam in it. If it feels steam-hot, follow the excessive heat back to the radiators to locate the leaky trap.

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