Steam Main Question for Steamhead

Jeff_44

Steamhead,

I've seen you graciously answer this question for many of us homeowner Steam 'students' on this site...here's another one (if you don't mind).

I'm trying to determine if I have enough main venting. Here are the dimensions:

My one pipe system has two mains. One side is 46' (vented with two Hoffman 75s) and the other side is 53' (vented with a Gorton #2) the pipe diameter is 2".

The 46' main services 4 rads (plus one to the attic bedroom which we don't have open). The 53' main services 6 rads (plus one to the garage, also which
is not open). On the coldest of days, all the rads come up nice and even. On the 'not as cold days' (25 degrees and above) the rads at the end of the mains have less heat than the others. This is especially true on the 53' main with the Gorton #2.

Is there ever a situation where too much venting
would be a problem?

Any thoughts would be most gratefully appreciated.

Thank You,

JC

Steamhead

How long

does it take for steam to reach the ends of both mains, measured from the time at which steam starts to leave the boiler?

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Jeff_49

Steamhead,

On the initial start up in the morning, it takes about 15-20 minutes.
Once the system is up to temp it takes about 4-6 minutes.
We have an old weil-mcclain boiler from 1940. Also, the
around the boiler piping (although original) is not as
good as it should be - this may be slowing things down.

I'll post a couple of pics.

Thanks

Jeff

Jeff_49

Somehow one of the pics didin't post correctly...

here it tis...

Steamhead

If it takes that long

from steam first starting to leave the boiler until it reaches the ends of the mains, either the boiler is under-fired or there's a steam leak above the water line. Do you have to add water frequently?

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Jeff_49

Steamhead,

Perhaps I'm not measuring things correctly. I start timing the venting process when the thermostat calls for heat and end when the main vents close with heat.

The only time I have to add water is after a few blow downs on the
LWCO.


The boiler was originally oil and was converted at
some point with a Liberty Combustion Corp. gas burner rated at
200,000 BTU. We have a 1800 square ft. home.

Steamhead

Start your timing

when the pipes coming out of the boiler get steam-hot. This is the point at which steam starts to flow from the boiler into the system, toward the vents. I'll watch this thread for the results.

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Jeff_49

It's a little hard to tell when the pipes near the boiler get steamy
hot because every inch of them is insulateld. BUT...as best as I
can tell it takes about 2 minutes for the steam to shut off the vents.

The 46' side with the two Hoffman 75's seems to close a little
quicker than the 53' side with the Gorton #2.

Steamhead

That's about right

next thing to check is the length of the heating cycle. It may be too short in milder weather. If your thermostat has an anticipator, set it to a slightly higher rating and see if that helps. If it's digital, check the cycles-per-hour setting. It should not be more than 3.

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Jeff_49

Steamhead,

Thanks for all your help and advise. The thermostat is
a Honeywell T87. Around 32 degrees outside temp, the boiler
cylces around 12 minutes off and 7 minutes on.

Steamhead

That one has an anticipator

slide it to the left a bit and see if that helps.

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Jeff_49

I'll try it. Does this mean that on real cold days that it will cycle longer also? I measued this with an ammeter and set it
accordingly but it did shorten the cycle.

Thanks again.

Ken_21

Purchase

Jeff:

Just curious where you eneded up finding the #2? After reading your first post I contacted both our Jersey Rep and Bloomfield Plumbing. May have been a misunderstanding with the counter guy there, because he has them in stock. Just making sure you had no hastles. Thanks Ken/Gorton

Ken_21

Purchase

Jeff:

Just curious where you eneded up finding the #2? After reading your first post I contacted both our Jersey Rep and Bloomfield Plumbing. May have been a misunderstanding with the counter guy there, because he has them in stock. Just making sure you had no hastles. Thanks Ken/Gorton

Ken_21

Purchase

Jeff:

Just curious where you eneded up finding the #2? After reading your first post I contacted both our Jersey Rep and Bloomfield Plumbing. May have been a misunderstanding with the counter guy there, because he has them in stock. Just making sure you had no hastles. Thanks Ken/Gorton

Ken_21

Purchase

Jeff:

Just curious where you ended up finding the #2? After reading your first post I contacted both our Jersey Rep and Bloomfield Plumbing. May have been a misunderstanding with the counter guy there, because he has them in stock. Just making sure you had no hastles. Thanks Ken/Gorton

Steamhead

Yes

but that shouldn't hurt its performance.

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Matt_11

Hi Ken,

I ordered the #2 vent directly from you. (I'm in Rochester,
NY). It came quickly and I put it right on the system. You
even sent me a nice pad of Gorton 'postists and a nice little
screw driver.

Thanks,

Jeff

Boiler Guy

Ken

Why can't I access your site from western Canada?

Jeff_49

Steamhead,

I moved the anticipator to the left. The heat at the end radiators is
a little better but not much - mostly the inlet valve gets warm.
I'll try moving the anticipator another notch to the left but I wonder if I need to add another vent to the radiator. I have the vent open as wide as it will got. This particular radiator is on the second floor and at the end of the line.

Steamhead

Is the piping

between the main and this one radiator longer than that of the other radiators? Is the current vent a Hoffman, Dole or Vent-Rite adjustable vent? If so, try a bigger vent like a Gorton #C.

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