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end of main vents

daniel Flaherty
daniel Flaherty Member Posts: 21
in THE MAIN WALL
I need end of main vents for a one pipe steam system. I've looked at home depot and lowes and not only don't they carry them, they dont know what they are. Where do I get them?

Comments

  • daniel Flaherty
    daniel Flaherty Member Posts: 21
    End of main vents

    I need end of main vents for a one pipe steam system. I've looked at home depot and lowes and not only don't they carry them, they dont know what they are. Where do I get them?
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Does your system have main vents now?

    If not, you may need a pro to install them.

    Measure the length and diameter of each steam main, and we can tell you what vents are needed.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    you went to home depot

    You went to home depot, they didn't help ya? There one near here and I saw a whole bunch of gorton steam vents and I asked what were they for... The orange apron man said , " why, they are for venting hot water radatior!" Asked him again for hot water or steam?, he piped, " what the differnace, they are both radatior!" Gonna feels sorry for those customers believing anything what theose home center say and get no liablty from it...
  • daniel Flaherty
    daniel Flaherty Member Posts: 21


    we have end of main vents but they have layers of old paint covering them. installing new ones should be easy or I wonder if using paint remover would work.. they are at least 15 years old and maybe new ones wouldn't be a bad idea. I measured the mains. the pipe is approx. 2 3/8 inch outside diameter and one main is 20 feet the other is 38 feet. the two existing main vents are on the return pipes. one is only 6 inches from where the main becomes a return, but the other is set back 8 feet into the wet return. also one of them has rust fromwhere it has been dripping or venting steam. my last question is when we put up new sheetrock walls can we cover the main vents behind the wall or leave an access/venting hole?
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    you need...

    to go to a real plumbing supply house...where are you?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • daniel Flaherty
    daniel Flaherty Member Posts: 21
    long island, nassau county

    I live in the town of merrick in nassau county on long island. I,m only about 10 miles from Dan Holorhans office and I found some pro listings on this site. Any advice is appreciated.
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    sure,

    call one.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    That's easy

    two Gorton #1 vents on the short main, and a Gorton #2 on the long one. This will get rid of the air in a super hurry at about one ounce of pressure, and the steam should reach the ends of both mains at about the same time.

    Don't be shy about calling a pro, especially if you have trouble getting the old vents out. Try Matt "Mad Dog" Sweeney, he owns Triple Crown P&H in Floral Park.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Fred Campbell
    Fred Campbell Member Posts: 80
    Call a Pro

    Gerry is right. I'm sure you're trying to save a few bucks by buying at big box but...from your post, if your MAIN vents are painted over, what's the rest of the system like? With the heating season fast approaching you shouldn't fiddle f*&# around. Venting is an art and a science. Either you do the research and do it yourself or get schooled by a paid pro.

    Combustion safety is a science and DEADLY. Do the research and do it yourself (read: roll the dice) or have a pro look at you boiler.

    Five minutes with a knowledgeable counterman at a plumbing/heating supply house (alas, rarer and harder to find) equals or exceeds weeks of aggravation with the big box salespeople.

    Like anything else, be an informed consumer. Most of us are straight shooters. Don't be shy!

    Good luck buddy, Tom in the great Midwest
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    where in the

    Tombig, where in the great midwest are you located?
  • Fred Campbell
    Fred Campbell Member Posts: 80
    rjbphd

    I'm a White Sox fan living in the shadow of Wrigley field. My work, mostly residential, carries me around the neighborhood and up the north shore. I know you're from the west suburbs. I grew up in Mokena. I wish I coulda met you at Dan's last seminar in Hillside.....couldn't make it.
  • JB_8
    JB_8 Member Posts: 85
    air vent

    http://www.garnetmidwest.com/displayCategory.do?Id=1817
  • Fred Campbell
    Fred Campbell Member Posts: 80
    Main Vents

    Not to sound overly jaded but buying new main vents and knowing what to do with them are two different things.

    TG
  • daniel Flaherty
    daniel Flaherty Member Posts: 21
    thanks for all advice

    I've got a number of a local steam pro through this website. I'll use him and not mess it up myself. Reading the lost art of steam heating helped me to do simple things and understand the system, but theres no substitute for years of practice. Danno
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