Do I have a 1 pipe or 2 pipe system

Seth_5

Ok, well the main splits into two mains after coming out of the boiler. One goes right, and one goes left. They are both about 120 feet long. There is one vent at the end of each main about 8 inches tall. (about 5 of those inches is because the vents are screwed into a pipe elevating the vent, which seems to me to keep it away from the main pipe)

The actual vents are non-adjustable with no name on it either. They are located about 16 inches back from where the line gets smaller. I can't measure the diameter because there is too much asbestos in the way. It looks like about 1 1/2 inch diameter maybe?

I do want to get that book.

Seth_5

1 or 2 pipe system

I posted before and thanks for the info but I just came to realize that I do not know which system I have for sure. I have convectors built into the walls and only one pipe that goes to these convectors. On the opposite side is the air vent. In the basement there is a supply pipe, that goes around the perimeter of the house, that each convector pipe branches off of. Then at the very end of the supply pipe there is a pipe that goes right back into the boiler I guess in which brings water back to the boiler. Is this a 1 pipe or 2 pipe system?

pitman9

1 pipe system

Steamhead (in transit)

That's a 1-pipe system

and since it is, the vents belong there.

Seth_5

Thanks, I guess whichever system I have depends on how many pipes go to the convectors? Am I right?

Steamhead (in transit)

Correct

Now check to see if there are vents at the ends of the mains. Measure the length and diameter of each main and tell us what vent is on it. We can tell you what's needed.

Seth_5

Ok, just one question. What is a main? Is it the supply pipe?

Steamhead (in transit)

It's

the pipe that goes from the boiler, feeds convectors along the way, and ends at a point where it drops toward the floor and gets smaller.

Do you have Dan's book "We Got Steam Heat"? Or "The Lost Art of Steam Heating"? If not, get yours on the Books and More page of this site. They contain a lot of answers to the questions you will have as you go. And we'll be here too.

Steamhead (in transit)

That must be a big house

You can measure the outside diameter of the insulation (WITHOUT DISTURBING IT) subtract 2-1/4 inches and that's your pipe size.

Seth_5

yeah 3000 square foot colonial in Webster Massachusetts. The pipe diameter is 2 inches because I measured 4 1/4 inches.

Nancy_3

What do the little valves do? What do the big ones do?

I have an enormous old house, and am starting this year with a $600. a month gas bill. I need to know what to turn off or on to make some of the very hot rooms cool off a little and some of the cold rooms get more heat. I am replacing all of those little side valves, the ones there ar very old. What happens when I turn them to closed? Does this help regulate the steam heat by turning the heat off or down? I would think that it would only build up pressure in the radiators, and I can't see that that would do much good, particularly in some of the radiators that get very hot. What does that big turning valve that goes from the radiator into the floor do? Some of those big valves can not be turned. I really must find a way to get some heat into some of the radiators in some rooms that stay very cool and shut down some of the other radiators in some rooms that get so hot that my tenants open the windows in the middle of the winter....I will address my other heating problems, when I know about those two different kinds of valves. Thank you

Steamhead (in transit)

Start off

with two Gorton #2 vents per main. These are the biggest available. Pipe them on tees screwed onto the vent risers.

If you can't find Gortons in your area, call Ken Kunz or Linda Mast at Gorton, 908-276-1323 and tell them I sent you. They will see that you get the vents you need.

Also check the Find a Professional page of this site, you want to know who to call if you need help.

Steamhead (in transit)

The little one

lets air out so steam can get in. The big one shuts off the steam if it isn't leaking that is.

You should also have properly-sized vents at the end of each steam main as described above.

Have you tried the Find a Professional page of this site to find a steam man inb your area?

Seth_5

Thank you very much sir, I appreciate your advice.