Steam pressure and venting

Ray_2

I have recently moved into a house with a one pipe steam heating system. In trying to be sure I get the most heat for the buck - I came accross the site- and have some questions

My pressure Trol is set as follows

Main= 5 psi Diff= 2 psi

I Have read a couple messages that say the pressure should be set around 2 psi. Should I turn mine down to 2psi? What are the pros / cons to doing this? What is the proper way to determine the pressure settings?

I have replaced all my radiator vents with Maid o Mist vents- size of vent depending on the location and size of the radiator.
I also have two valves in the basement on the pipes that I question their size and if they are properly located. The main pipe comes out of the boiler and splits 2 directions-23 feet to one side, 15 feet to the other, the pipe measures about 2 3/8 diameter. One radiator on the 15 foot side, 6 radiators on the 23 foot side. at their extents the pipes make a u-turn, reduce to 1 1/2 inch pipe, and make their way back toward the boiler. At the boiler both returns have a T. The top of the t has the valve(A Dole 1933),The bottom the the t's branch down then connect together and return to the boiler in a single pipe. I question whether the Dole 1933 valves are located properly? (at the end of the returns) Are they enough to vent the main? How will this effect my heating system if these vents are wrong / not working properly? Maid o mist has vents for mains - but they clearly are a bigger vent and I worry about to much venting, If possible? What is the proper vent for the end of the return / main

Thanks in advance for the help

Ray W

Dean_7

steam

Go to the books section of this site and order "We Got Steam Heat" and after that "The Lost Art of Steam Heating". If you have steam Heat you should have both of these books. They explain everything you should know as a homeowner about your system most importantly how and why it should properly work.

Steamhead

Crank it down

Main-2 pounds. Differential- 1 pound. That's all you need.

Those Dole 1933 vents are really made for convectors, not steam mains. Vent the long main with two Gorton #1, Maid-o-Mist #1 or Hoffman #75 vents and the short one with just one of these vents. This will fill the mains in a hurry.

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