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Steam Heat Venting

Steamhead (in transit)
Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
in THE MAIN WALL
if the Vent-Rites were so slow they allowed the air in the mains to act as a cushion for whatever is causing the hissing?

Jim, I'd start by skimming and flushing that boiler. Dirty water and/or oil sitting on top of the water can cause hissing.

The small amount of shavings from a drill-and-tap job that actually do get in the pipe should not be a problem.

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Comments

  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    Problem with Venting

    I have 3 new Gorton vents on my main lines & all new vents on my radiators.My main vents emit just a whisper of air,but my radiator vents blow & hiss steam like crazy.The heat seems ok,but the book says this is a problem--HELP! p.s. 70 & still fighting with my steam heat. jim
  • Bob W._3
    Bob W._3 Member Posts: 561


    Jim, are they blowing and hissing "steam" or "air"? How large are the radiators and what kind of vents on them? Newer or older boiler? Pressuretrol settings?
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    stem heat venting

    My pressure is is perfect 0.5-2.5---boiler is old,but in very good condition.I have been using this system for 40 years(I could be in the category of Dan`s famous dead men)& this is first time I`ve been baffled with it`s action.Thanks Bob,all the normal requirements are right by the book, but the problem still exists.The air seems to be going right by my main vents & comming out the radiator vents.In the past I have been able to overcome any incidents of this sort,but this one is a poser.
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    stem heat venting

    My pressure is is perfect 0.5-2.5---boiler is old,but in very good condition.I have been using this system for 40 years(I could be in the category of Dan`s famous dead men)& this is first time I`ve been baffled with it`s action.Thanks Bob,all the normal requirements are right by the book, but the problem still exists.The air seems to be going right by my main vents & comming out the radiator vents.In the past I have been able to overcome any incidents of this sort,but this one is a poser. Thanks, Jim
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Do the mains fill with steam

    before the steam starts rising to the radiators? If so the main vents are doing their job. Maybe the radiator vents are too big, or the boiler is oversized?

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  • Bob W._3
    Bob W._3 Member Posts: 561


    How about surging? Vents seem to hiss more when the boiler needs to be skimmed. If not, what has changed in your system that could have caused this problem? One of Dan's points in his writings on steam is that a small change in one part of the system can cause big problems, and not necessarily in the same room. I would skim first and then see if the problem still exists. Also, Steamhead mentioned that you could be venting the rads too fast. Do you have some 1A's or equivalent on the rads that you could adjust?
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    Problem with venting

    If it ain`t broke,don`t fix it. I took my new main vents off and re-installed the old ones and "behold" it seems to be venting okay again. Any answers?????? By the way--dumb question--When you bore and tap the main line for new vents,how do you keep the cast iron shavings from going into your system? Thanks, Jim.
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    Problem with venting

    If it ain`t broke,don`t fix it. I took my new main vents off and re-installed the old ones and it seems to be venting okay again. Any answers?????? Thanks, Jim
  • Bob W._3
    Bob W._3 Member Posts: 561


    Jim, I'm still curious as to what the new vents were vs. the old ones. I'm guessing the old ones were slower. Am I right or wrong on that? Thanks.
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    Problem with venting

    Bob,In answer to your question,which vents am I using? The new main valves are Gorton air eliminators # 1 v`s. The old valves which seem to work better are Ventrite #6A. However,I don`t seem to get the good volume of heat that I did with the Gortons.I guess I still have a small mystery.To change the subject(dumb question?}How does one prevent cast iron shavings from going into the system when boring and tapping for a new main vent? Thanks, Jim
  • Nick W
    Nick W Member Posts: 200
    Jim`s venting problem

    I have done everything thats been suggested recently and I`m still venting differently than usual,but I also am losing about 2 pints of water daily,hence,leaky boiler?It`s 57 years old,so figure.We want to leave our system as is and just replace the furnace.I would welcome any advice you guys have on new furnaces and chimney lining. Thanks, Jim
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