Single-pipe steam tuneup

Kevin_23

I'd like to tune up my 30-year old Weil-McLain a little more. I replaced the steam main vent with a new Hoffman 75; however, after 4 months of usage it now hisses steam VERY loudly. Is there a way to clean this $75 vent? Or do I need to replace it? And if I need to replace, should I install a Y-strainer prior to the replaced vent to keep it clean?

Now, the boiler is oversized for our house because someone removed a radiator years ago. It is a 245,000 btu and our house seems to require a 200,000 (or slightly smaller). Our boiler short cycles, and after reading Dan's book I set the pressuretrol to 0.5 cut-in to 2.0 cut-out. However, the boiler still short cycles. Should I add a 2nd Hoffman #75 next to the other? Is that too much venting?

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Details

What's the size of your steam main and how long is it.

Mad Dog, Steamhead, Ron, Jr. or some of the other steam pros can dial you in if you give us more information.

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Kevin_23

system details

The steam mains appear to be 2" (2 1/2" outside diameter, right?).

The horizontal steam mains equal 100 feet (cumulative) in the basement. The horizontal distance to the top of the wet return (where the #75 is located) is about 23 feet.

Steamhead

Does that mean

each of your individual steam mains is made up of 50 feet of 2-inch pipe? If so, vent each one with a Gorton #2.

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Kevin_23

I guess this amateur homeowner can't figure out what is considered a steam main. Does each main tie into a wet return? If that's the case, I only have one main, and it is 25 feet of 2" pipe. I only have one dry-to-wet return juncture on my system (even though I've noticed many other neighborhood homes have two).

Would you suggest adding a 2nd vent in the same area as the first and having a twin-vent setup?

Steamhead

The steam main

ends at the takeoff for the last radiator. If there is additional piping of more than a few feet after this point and before it drops below the water level of the boiler, it's called a "dry return".

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Kevin_23

Thanks for the responses. I'll just try putting another main vent on the end of the furthest run. Currently it is capped off where a radiator takeoff USED to be.

Steamhead

Good idea

I'd move both vents to that point. That way, you won't have to fill the dry return with steam.

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Kevin_23

Any tricks on how to add some main vents where you suggested (see picture). Note the plug on the end of the main where a radiator takeoff was removed. I can possibly take out the plug. But how should I pipe it to avoid hammer? (I'm aware of Dan's preferred method of setting it back about a foot from the takeoff, but in this case I would have to remove some asbestos). Is it possible to put two vents on the end of this run and avoid hammer?

And would I just cap the old steam main vent location? (click on attachment #2)

Thanks Steamhead and/or others for the responses.

Kevin_23

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Steamhead?