Why is there water at my main vent ?

Pat_17

My main air vent (2 gortons #2's) is at the end of my 55 feet 2in diameter main (insulated)and there is drops of water leaking from the main vent fitting.Why is there water at that point? shouldn't it be steam? Too much venting? or too much water in the system? Any ideas?

Thanks Pat

Nick L. in Vt

any photos?

and how much water? at what part of the heating cycle?

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

pressure?

Hi Pat,

1)What is your operating steam pressure?

2)How is the water level in the gauge glass?

Best regards, Pat

Pat_17

full sight glass

Pat

My steam pressure is operating at 2 and my sight glass is full.My return lines always seem full and I think they back up to the main vent.When the system isn't running should there be any water in the returns? Where would excess water come from.I have a manual feed which I don't think is leaking but I don't know where the water is coming from.

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

leaking manual feed?

Hi Pat,

It is somewhat common to encounter a manual valve that leaks, I ran across one this year in a rectory.

The gauge glass should not be full, but 1/4 to 1/2 full. This is why you are seeing water at the vent. The pressure is probably OK at 2#, but if the gauge or pressuretrol are off and the pressure is really 3#, then that could be part of the problem too.

First, get the water level down to where it should be. Then find the leak and fix it. It costs a lot more to operate with a flooded boiler.

Best regards, Pat

Pat_17

How much water should be in my wet returns?

Pat

Thanks for the quick response. How much water should be in the wet return that leads back to the boiler when the system is off? Besides the feed is there any possible sources of excess water being added to the system?and how should I go about finding the culprit

Thanks,Pat