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two pipe...two issues

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Al Letellier_9
Al Letellier_9 Member Posts: 929
in THE MAIN WALL
the only way to know if the boiler is oversized is to measure the connected load and match it to the boiler. The symptoms you describe could be related to piping arrangement, bad traps (you did say two pipe??) or bad vents. Have a pro look at it.

Comments

  • Kman
    Kman Member Posts: 13
    short cycling and pipe noise

    Two problems. I do not know if they are related. i do have short cycling after it has been on for a while before it reaches set temp. Also if I leave the water level at the recomended level i get water hammer in the pipes. If i lower the water level to 1/3 it is very quiet. The near piping is copper, which previous owner had put in. I also believe they removed a radiator. Is the boiler oversized? I do plan on putting a radiator back in the kitchen.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,379
    Al is correct

    and you should really think about repiping with screw pipe. Can you post any pics? Mad Dog

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Kman
    Kman Member Posts: 13


    I do plan on going back to threaded iron pipe when I add back a radiator. The main vent on the steam side was replaced and the smaller air vent on the return does close after spiting a little. All radiators get hot. Could a trap still not be working?
  • brucewo1b
    brucewo1b Member Posts: 638
    Kevin

    You are trapping water in your header that reducing coupling needs to be on the vertical pipe facing down so all the condensate can leave the header.
  • Jim Bennett
    Jim Bennett Member Posts: 607
    Consider...

    that header repipe soon, this spring if you can. That joint at the bottom where the return connects does not look healthy!

    Jim

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Kman
    Kman Member Posts: 13
    Thanks, I did not see that water trap

    I will make sure I repipe this year. I have been watching my "boo boo" it does not drip but it is not going to get better. I cannot tell if someone patched a leak or what.

    Who can I trust in Cincinnati?
  • Christian Egli_2
    Christian Egli_2 Member Posts: 812
    Had you had three issues, would we have worked with three pipes?

    I'm going to guess you were talking about a two pipe system with traps at the radiators. (A disambiguating picture of the radiator + connections would help)

    If indeed you have traps at the radiators, you should do better to review the purpose of those failing air vents on the return end. Air has to get out. Trap at the radiator and thermostatic air vents at the return end = double trap, double jeopardy and... hammer... which you mentioned.

    I believe much of your seeming imbalance problems will go away with these issues reviewed. It should all be EZ. And like everyone else said, the reductioned header is bad news.

    Pat Linhardt is in Cincinnati, he'd have good leads. I'm in Dayton, not far away, email anyone of us if you want.

    Two options for two pipes.
  • Kman
    Kman Member Posts: 13
    two pipe steam gravity system

    > I'm going to guess you were talking about a two

    > pipe system with traps at the radiators. (A

    > disambiguating picture of the radiator +

    > connections would help)

    >

    > If indeed you have

    > traps at the radiators, you should do better to

    > review the purpose of those failing air vents on

    > the return end. Air has to get out. Trap at the

    > radiator and thermostatic air vents at the return

    > end = double trap, double jeopardy and...

    > hammer... which you mentioned.

    >

    > I believe much

    > of your seeming imbalance problems will go away

    > with these issues reviewed. It should all be EZ.

    > And like everyone else said, the reductioned

    > header is bad news.

    >

    > Pat Linhardt is in

    > Cincinnati, he'd have good leads. I'm in Dayton,

    > not far away, email anyone of us if you

    > want.

    >

    > Two options for two pipes.



    Yes it is a two pipe steam I think the main vent was damaged by water hammer. Some of the pipes went through an unheated basement garage with only barndoors. I had serious water hammer at that time. I have since insulated those pipes and closed the garage up. If a radiator trap stays open will the radiator still get hot?
    System: 5 radiators with traps on return side. One main vent, (New)Hoffman 75 and one air vent on return, Hoffman 71C.
  • Christian Egli_2
    Christian Egli_2 Member Posts: 812
    Love is in the air

    I seems more clearly now that your problem stem from the simple misapplication of air vents within a two pipe system (of which our region is full of)

    Indeed, radiators get hot only if the radiator trap is open. Then, once the cast iron hunk is hot, the trap shuts to prevent costly leakage of precious steam.

    Steam in the atmospheric returns of a two pipe system means trouble, particularly if the return exits are plugged with steam shutting air vents.

    Buy good traps, put them where needed only and your steam system will shower you with silently effective heat.

    How about that?


This discussion has been closed.

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