how many main vents?

Steamhead (in transit)

That's bigger than the job we posted in our Find a Professional ad. The link is below, you might want to check it out to see how we handled it. Then scale yours up a bit. You'll probably need the services of a welder as we did, and you definitely need a better steam man.

Main #1 should be vented with 8 Gorton #2 vents (this is the largest vent made today, and is equal to 3.5 Hoffman #75 vents).

Main #2- 7 Gorton #2 vents.

Main #3- 6 Gorton #2 vents.

Main #4- 2 Gorton #2 vents and one Hoffman #75 (use one of your existing ones here).

This will distribute steam quickly and evenly thru all mains.

Start off with no vents at all on the run-outs to the risers. Depending on how many floors the building has, you may want to vent the tops of the risers. This would require measuring the risers and their associated runouts as you did the mains.

For an in-depth discussion of how venting works, check out Gerry Gill and Steve Pajek's venting e-book in the online store. All proceeds go to charity.

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=367&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"</A>

tom_82

main pipe vents

we have four mains on a one pipe steam system. The building has thirty units. I am not a contractor. Just a mere condo owner trying to figure things out.I'm not getting too far with what our property manager is telling me. I am reading and re-reading sections of Dan's books trying to learn as much as I can. I am finding "the wall very helpful"

the four mains are the following lengths.
#1 220ft. 4"pipe. has 2 #75 hoffmans, not at the end of the main, but at the end of the last 2"run off (21ft long), just before the last riser.

#2 207ft. 4"pipe. no vent

#3 170ft. 4"pipe. 2 #75 hoffmans at end of main and another two at the end of a 2"runoff, at the end of the pipe where it turns down 90degrees.

#4 80ft. 4"pipe 2 #75 hoffmans at the end.

the boiler has a 9" header pipe which feeds a 6" pipe which runs about 20 feet then #1&2 split off one way and #3&4 the other. Interestingly, main #2 goes from the 6" to a 2" connector then back up to a 4" for the rest of the main.
The pipes are, for the most part, insulated. there are sections ranging from 4 feet to 12 feet of uninsulated pipe.

Thanks.
TOm

tom_82

thanks steam head

I will check out that e-book. Thanks for the tips. This site and Dan's books are great resources.

We have had the same contractor servicing our system for ten years and the response I get when I talk about the uneveness of the system is "it's always been a problem" or "once the system is up everything evens out, but those far units are tough...always have been"
I am determined to correct the uneveness! and hopefully save some money in the long run.
THANKS AGAIN!
TOm

Steamhead (in transit)

Where

are you located? I bet there's a real steam man near you.....

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

tom_82

Boston

Steamhead,
we are located in boston.
The contractor who has been servicing this system for the past ten years is posted on this site. They are a big outfit and I am worried that we, a; have a different technician everytime we get serviced. b; are not being told what we should do to maintain the system correctly (I"m trying to become educated to resolve that) and c; they don't fully understand steam heat. I am interested in looking elswhere.
Do you know anyone?

I received an email from one guy and I talked with him last night. He met you once at t workshop in PA, seemed nice and more knowledgeable than anyone else I've directly spoken with.

Is there anything I should look for/ask in particular to know the knuckleheads from the knowing?
THanks again.
PS i purchased the venting book you mentioned and a pipe measuring ruler.
I am really interested in getting our system working to it's full potential! (my wife and son are already tired of hearing me talk about steam heat) Why is it so compelling?
TOm