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One-pipe steam vents waterlog

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Adam Buchsbaum
Adam Buchsbaum Member Posts: 10
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a one-pipe steam system. Two of my radiators have started to waterlog their vents repeatedly. These two happen to be baseboard radiators; the other radiators in my house are not baseboard units. I have replaced the vents with new vari-valve vents by heat-timer. I have added some pitch to each unit. Still, though, the vents waterlog after only a few heating cycles and remain clogged until I remove and empty them. The water in the boiler is just about at the midway point in the glass. The rest of the system seems to work fine: all the radiators heat well and fast, it's quiet, no spitting or hissing, etc.

The boiler is new---we converted from oil to gas over the summer---but the system was working fine, including these baseboard units, before the conversion and afterwards for the first few months of this fall/winter. This problem just started a couple weeks ago.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Comments

  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,083
    try smaller vents

    it sounds like your venting to fast and carrying the water with the air..i've had this happen with varivents also..i switched to gorton C's and all was then fine..

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  • Adam Buchsbaum
    Adam Buchsbaum Member Posts: 10
    Re: try smaller vents

    thanks. i'll try that.
  • John H.
    John H. Member Posts: 38
    possably

    > thanks. i'll try that.



  • John H.
    John H. Member Posts: 38
    possably

    you need to clean and skimm the boiler more. If the steam is wet it will seperate in the larger radiators but not in the baseboard.
  • Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste
    Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste Member Posts: 152
    always want clean

    Hi John,

    Good point. Oil from the installation of the new boiler sometimes takes awhile to foul a steam boiler. Might explain why it worked for a few months after the new install, but has problems now.

    You always want to make sure the boiler water is free of oil or impurities before replacing parts out in the system. A dirty boiler can cause all kinds of strange problems in the system.

    I also agree with Gerry on the venting, fast venting can cause spitting vents, as well as operating pressure.

    Best regards, Pat
  • Adam Buchsbaum
    Adam Buchsbaum Member Posts: 10
    thanks

    so far, the new gorton vents seem to be doing the trick. i will keep the cleaning advice in mind, though.

    thanks, all
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