richardson and boynton return line check valve

RICHARD MIGLIACCI

I HAVE A RICHARDSON AND BOYTON VAPOR SYSTEM IN MY HOME, AT THE RETURN LINE AT THE END OF THE RADIATOR, IN THE ELBOW IS SOME KIND OF VALVE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED. THE RADIATOR IS NOT GETTING HOT ACROSS ALL THE SECTIONS AND IS NOT HOT ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ROOM WARM. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE THESE VALVES CAN BE FOUND OR CAN I USE A STEAM TRAP IN PLACE OF THE OLD VALVE?

Mad Dog

I don't know of a source for them, but

try carefully taking it apart, it may just be crudded up. Steamhead will know if you can get parts for them. Mad Dog

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Steamhead

You need to clean it

There's a curved tube running into the radiator from the elbow which acts as a water seal. In the top side of this tube is a small hole which serves as the air vent. This hole is probably plugged and if the air can't get out the steam can't get in. You can clean this with a piece of wire. No need to replace it.

See chapter 15 of "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" for more on this fitting and the system it is part of.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

tommyoil

Steamhead

What would happen if the steel ball was missing from that union ell. What would the symptoms be?

Steamhead

Shouldn't be a problem nowadays

the ball checks in the Richardson and O-E return ells and the "bafflers" in the Kriebel ells were there to keep any vapor in the dry returns from backing into a radiator if someone shut it off when hot. Remember, these systems were the exception to the "no steam in the dry return" rule.

Nowadays if you're running one of these systems with a Vaporstat, you shouldn't have much vapor in the dry return. So the lack of a check ball shouldn't hurt anything. If it does, see if you can find a brass or stainless steel ball that will fit.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

tommyoil

Thanks again

For yet another lesson Frank.

Boiler Guy

Tommy Oil

Good Morning Haven't heard from you in a while

Your twin brother (therapy?)