uneven heat in one pipe system

Deacon Shupp

I have a one-pipe steam system. All the vents are either Gorton type "C" main vents and the rest are all Gorton type "4" vents. All the main vents are in the upstairs of the house at the end of the mains. The downstairs has always been cold(er), so this winter (as we have a baby), I switched the vents and put the main vents down and the #4 vents up. The heat is much more even throughout the house, the boiler runs less, but there is now very slight hissing in some of the vents. Would it be better to leave the main vents at the end of the mains where they originally were and just get bigger vents for the big radiators downstairs, or leave the mains downstairs where they are now?? Thanks

Fred Harwood

vents

Give it a try. Vents are inexpense. Your main vents at the end of the mains (near the drip to the wet return) should be Gorton #1 or larger, or even two #1s.

Deacon Shupp

Thank you, I will try that.

Steamhead

Size your main vents properly

and the system will be much easier to balance. Measure the length and diameter of each steam main- outside diameter is fine, subtract 1/4-inch from that to get the pipe size. If there's old insulation on the pipes, do not disturb it- carefully measure the outside diameter. Subtract 2-1/4 inches from that (this old insulation was almost always 1 inch thick) and that's likely your pipe size.

With this info we can tell you what you need.

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