two pipe steam

Dan C._2

I am replacing a boiler on a two pipe steam system. Where the dry returns tie in together they go through a big square box with a vent on it. I think it is some kind of trap. Can I eliminate it and vent the two returns and tie in the two returns below the water line? In Linhardt's field guide to steam heating on page 101 there is a picture that looks very similar.

Steamhead (in transit)

That's a vent trap

which is the air vent for the dry returns. You could eliminate it and install main vents, but why? If you need more capacity, you could add vents, but there's no need to remove the vent trap.

Dan C._2

i don't know

is it bad to remove it? If I leave it would I be able to get a new one? What does it do?

Steamhead (in transit)

This is a Vapor system

Instead of a vent on each radiator, the air along with the condensate was routed thru the rad traps/water seals/whatever the system used, into the dry return. When it got to the vent trap, the air escaped while the water went back to the boiler. There was a float inside the vent trap that would close the opening if water backed up into it.

If the float in the vent trap goes bad, simply screw a Gorton #2 vent in the top opening.

gerry gill

but, if you really want to get rid of it,

send it to me so i can test its capacity and get it added to the vent chart..i'd even pay for the shipping if its something not on the list.

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Dan C._2

ok

Ok so then i should reuse the old one? Or is it something they still make? There are steam traps on all of the radiators can it still be a vapor system if there are traps? THey look like regular traps

gerry gill

sure can,

many of Mouat's steam systems used regular thermostatic traps..with the wording ''mouat vapor heating'' on the tops of the traps..just an example..vapor systems had more to do with how they regulated the the amount of steam entering a radiator, than with how they regulated condensate flow out of it..

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