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Cant find anyone willing to work on my steam system

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Mad Dog_2
Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,414
in THE MAIN WALL
any system can be brought back to life for much less $$$ than a rip out and conversion to HW. Mad Dog
Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.

Comments

  • cg_5
    cg_5 Member Posts: 2
    No one will work on my steam system

    A little frustrated here; just bought a 1930's house ins West Hartford CT (06119) but no one around here seems to want to tackle the system - 2 pipe steam, gas fired
    bad water hammer on startup suspect steam traps never looked at; relief valves near boiler seem stuck etc.
    Only person close by in the find a prof section is too far away
    Anybody from the Hartford area know of anyone who enjoys working on a steam system?
    Heck, I don't even seem to have a Hartford loop!

    THANKS
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    As you call, and describe the problems, are you open to the tech's suggestions that the entire system may need to go? Doesn't sound like something that anyone would want to piece together on a piece by piece basis...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Al Corelli_2
    Al Corelli_2 Member Posts: 395
    Sounds Like Fun!

    Wish I was closer.

    I'd love to tackle that job.

    Good Luck.


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

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • ttekushan_3
    ttekushan_3 Member Posts: 964
    don't panic yet.

    I'm hoping someone will be able to help you there. Sometimes the simplest things cause seemingly large problems.

    For example, no Hartford Loop. This means there's a check valve instead. This is the way it used to be done. But sediment in the return line can slow the return of water, or the check valve can be stuck, causing the condensate to take its good old time to return to the boiler. So you need a little more water to keep it going throughout the cycle. Well... When the system shuts down all that impeded return condensate eventually comes back and floods the boiler. Next cycle comes and the overfilled boiler causes water to shoot into the system with the steam causing huge water hammer and perhaps leakage at the safety pop off valves.

    The solution in this instance is a flushing of the return lines and servicing or replacement of the return check valve.

    See? It could be quite simple. To bad I'm in Cleveland and won't be visiting my brother in Bristol before the holidays. Maybe later...

    -Terry

    Terry T

    steam; proportioned minitube; trapless; jet pump return; vac vent. New Yorker CGS30C

  • David Sutton_6
    David Sutton_6 Member Posts: 1,079


    Hello Southwick Mass here ...David Sutton
  • Christian Egli_2
    Christian Egli_2 Member Posts: 812
    On the right track to having wonderful steam heat

    It's always the smallest details that cause the biggest problems, and like everything else, knowing what to do is most important.

    CG, you're doing yourself a lot of good by looking for someone who knows how to help you. Getting bad advice would be terrible. Have you got the We Got Steam Heat book by Dan Holohan? It'll help finding the good people.

    http://www.heatinghelp.com/shopcart/product.cfm?category=2-109

    The same link

    The good book


  • Brad White_145
    Brad White_145 Member Posts: 17
    I second David Sutton's Nomination.

    All in favor? Say Aye.

    (And Southwick is at least 'pointing in the right direction'.)
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    \"entire system may need to go\"????

    NEVER!!!!!

    CG, it sounds like you have an old Vapor system- the Cadillac of heating in its day, and still one of the best out there. Whatever problems you have are easily fixable by the right person. David Sutton would be an excellent choice.

    Can you post some pics of the boiler, piping around boiler and a couple of radiators, and tell us if you've found any manufacturer's name on any of the system's original parts? We can get more specific if we know who originally designed and sold your system.



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  • Ragu_5
    Ragu_5 Member Posts: 315
    Aye!

    Call David.

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  • jackchips_2
    jackchips_2 Member Posts: 1,337
    Aye

    aye.

    Does that count as two votes?

    Jack
  • Al Corelli
    Al Corelli Member Posts: 454
    Yes..

    but it would be better if you said "eyes". :)
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,414
    We do consult all over the tristate area

    Here if you need us. Mad Dog

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    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Ken_40
    Ken_40 Member Posts: 1,310
    Steamhead's correct...

    A vapor system is among the finest variants around. Venting is critically important and relatively inexpensive to address. Near boiler piping is key and although not inexpensive, may simply need to be tweaked?

    Unless someone else of Dave's talents pops up, even closer, I'd ask Dave to take a look as well.
  • Brad White_9
    Brad White_9 Member Posts: 2,440
    An \"aye\" for David Sutton

    will save a lot of "Oy!"s later....

    I just have to get into marketing slogans..... NOT!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    way out of my area

    I'm from west surburb of Chicago and here's another "aye" for Dave or Maddog....
  • David Sutton_6
    David Sutton_6 Member Posts: 1,079
    Thank you Very much guys !!!

    I talk with Cyrus today and will be going to look at the system . i will let you all know whats going on...Thanks again....David
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