Found this cool vapor system

Al Corelli

I'm 5'9".

Standing on a bucket in that picture. :)

Al Corelli

Look at what I found!

Really cool old vapor system.

Do I need to rebuild these traps? Or are they the type that have "no moving parts"?

The problem (or should I say, symtom) is, steam is escaping from the vapor column.
My assumption is that the pressuretrol is allowing too much pressure into the system and is backing up into the column through the dry returns. I also wonder if it may be from a bad radiator trap. That is why I asked about rebuilding them.
The wet return is on its last legs. It looks like it can be removed without a sawsall. It is THAT bad, but is not leaking yet.

Customer wants to do things in small steps (do not even begin to suggest a new boiler). First off, I'm going to clear out the 1/4 inch piping and install a new VAPORSTAT on a brass pigtail. We'll se if the steam stops then.

If not, I'll look further.

I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Thanks Guys.

Steamhead (in transit)

Al, you've just met your first VECO system

Those are not "traps" on the rads, they're water seals with no moving parts. Each seal has a small hole to vent the air. You need to run this one at about 7 ounces or so with a Vaporstat. I'll bet that's why steam is escaping from the governor unit (which you called a vapor column).

Air is supposed to be vented from this system thru the governor and into the chimney via a condensing radiator hung from the ceiling. The chimney draft helps pull air out of the system. If steam is escaping, this connection may have been removed.

The setup on the right of the boiler with the ancient Aquastat is there to heat domestic hot water. Is it still working? What type of boiler is it- almost looks like a Mercer.

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Al Corelli

Didn't get too close to the asbestos to get the boiler name. Was only there for a few minutes.

The domestic system is no longer working. They have a 75 gallon gas heater. I think that is a cement lined tank up there.

Thanks for the information. I'll get specifics and let you all know just what transpires.

Where is the vent on the traps? It looks like they have been painted over.

Steamhead (in transit)

The vent is internal

it lets the air from the rad into the dry return.

This system is covered in chapter 15 of Lost Art.

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Al Corelli

Yes, I remember now. I have three copies of lost art.
One in the office, one at home, and one at the beach house.

Christian Egli_2

Lucky you, lucky home owner

Isn't that phenomenal, this system is really really old, and still totally functional. What a good investment it has proven to be for this home.

I'm glad you're getting to maintain it further.

While you're checking and cleaning out the radiator seal trap, verify that the little air escape hole is still open.

Here is what might have happened. With dirt and rust, the holes gets plugged the seals fill in with crud, the radiators then no longer vent the way they used to. Condensate still seeps out but air can't flow fast enough.

You can of course imagine what the next step was: a heating x-pert will have tought of cranking up the pressure. Naturally.

And now steam slowly leaks out the returns.

Nice pictures

Al Corelli

Looks to be a Richardson

The EZ-1 is firing through the door. It seems to spell Richardson.

The dry return is getting hot in spots. Not necessarily as you get closer to the boiler. It seems that some radiators are dumping VERY hot condensate into the dry return. Other radiators are returning warm condensate.

Interesting watching the column of water rise as the pressure went up. ALL of the radiators were hot at 3 oz. of vapor. After a short time I noticed the aforementioned heat difference in the dry return.

I turned the thermostat down to 71 (It had been ALL the way up), when I got back downstairs, my helper said that when the burner turned off, the water in the vapor column rose to the number 7 (7 oz?)and then fell to the "water line" mark.

Way Cool.

There is a picture of the wet return line. This is not the worst place in the line. Do you think the wet return needs to be changed? The customer (mergers & aquisitions laywer)thinks he'll wait. Why do some smart people do stupid things?

Bob W._3

Short basement or really tall dude?