One-pipe Coffee Maker

John Shea

Recently, with temps in the teens and below (here in MI), I have noticed a strange sound in the main of my one-pipe steam system. It almost sounds like a mild Coffee maker.

Is it that there's an abnormal amount of steam and condensate flowing? There's no hammering, just kind of a flowing sound.

Thanks!

John Shea

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Steamhead

Is the main

insulated? How about the runouts to the radiators?

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John Shea

The mains are thoroughly insulated.

A little has been replaced w/fiberglass, but most of it is air-cel(I believe). The horizontal runouts are insulated. What's in the wall, I do not know. I have a feeling they are not.

It seems to only happen when the tsat calls for heat frequently (real cold outside).

Steamhead

Wet steam is the next suspect

This can be caused by dirty boiler water (which may or may not show up in the sight glass) or improper piping around the boiler. If the level in the glass zooms up and down, you have a dirty water problem.

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