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Steam Heating System

Justin Dorrell
Justin Dorrell Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
i have moved into a new or should i say older house and it has a steam heating system. i dont know much about it and it keeps stopping firing. if i open the large area bloe-off valve it does start working again, but not for long. any ideas on whats wrong and how long should i open this valve for? should i open it until all the water has drained?

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Sounds like

    the low-water cutoff (the device that has the blow-off valve) may be bad. Or, maybe the system is building enough pressure so that the pressuretrol (usual one is a small gray box) is stopping the burner, which restarts when you release pressure thru the blow-off.

    The best thing for you to do is get a pro to go over the system with you. The more you know, the happier you'll be. Steam is a great system when properly installed and maintained. Try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone near you. If you're in the Baltimore area, contact me.

    Highly recommended reading: First "We Got Steam Heat!" then "The Lost Art of Steam Heating", both written by Dan Holohan. You can order them on the Books and More page of this site.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
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