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Steam heating contractor in NW Mass

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Dave_61
Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
in Strictly Steam
Hello,
I just read Dan's book...."We Got Steam Heat". It was a great read, and I learned quite a bit. I am looking for a contractor to replace our main steam vents in NW Mass (Greenfield area). One of the vents is spitting steam. They are both right near the elbows of where the return turn 90 degrees. I have read that this could be an issue with splashing water and rust. I would like them replaced with Gorton #2 vents and y strainer and nipples added. I've also noticed that the insulation on one of the mains is wet. Not sure where the leak is. Is there someone you would recommend in the area to do the work? Thank you. Dave

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  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating

    @Charlie from wmass is your man.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
    GrallertSailahNew England SteamWorks
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,861
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    KC_Jones said:

    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating

    @Charlie from wmass is your man.

    This.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    Thanks, guys. Do you recommend waiting until the end of the heating season to have main steam vents changed? House seems to heat up well. One vent was allowing some steam to escape. After reading here, I'm thinking of waiting until big mouth vents are available again. I tried putting a wrench on one of them, and it wouldn't budge. Just don't want to have them break and be without heat for any length of time. In 24 hours, the water in the sight glass dropped about 1/4 inch.
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    If it is leaking steam I would recommend you take care of that as soon as possible. That will cause excess make up water which leads to additional corrosion in the system.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
    RomanGK_26986764589
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,354
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    A lot of times old vents can be rather difficult. Try some PB Blaster or equivalent. Soak it, and then let it sit for 24 hours and soak it again, and then give it a try. Be sure and use a backup wrench on any pipes you don't want to come loose...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,534
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    Thanks for reading me, Dave. Charlie will take good care of you.
    Retired and loving it.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,002
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    Yup...Charlie be da man up By you.. u in good hands, Dave. Mad dog
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    > @DanHolohan said:
    > Thanks for reading me, Dave. Charlie will take good care of you.

    Dan,
    I really enjoyed the book. I will post photos later today of my boiler and piping setup.
  • mahoney
    mahoney Member Posts: 13
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    I replaced mine with these. Once every few years they spit steam, i remove and soak in water with a bit of agitation and they are back to normal.
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,534
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    Thanks, Dave.
    Retired and loving it.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Hoffman 75. They are good vents, just not much capacity if you have fairly long mains. It takes two of those to equal one Gorton #2 and about four of them to equal one Barnes and Jones Big Mouth.
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    Here are a few photos. Multiple pipes I would consider mains come off above boiler. Longest ones go across basement and into dirt crawl spaces. Probably longest is 80-100 feet of 2 inch pipe.
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    Oops. Hopefully photo comes through this time
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    Another. Sorry for multiple posts
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Wow, a Hoffman 75 on the end of a main that is 80 to 100 feet long isn't nearly enough. You ought to have three or four Gorton #2's or two Bigmouths on there. Each main should have it's own vents.
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    I don't quite get the setup. There are multiple pipes that come off the header, all heading in different directions. There are 2 pipes going back into the boiler. Each has a vent.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    edited November 2017
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    The two pipes going back into the bottom of the boiler are dry returns from the two mains. They drop into a short wet return before entering the boiler. I can't tell if there is a Hartford loop there or not and I certainly can't tell what pipes come off of the header. Not a good shot of that piping.
  • Dave_61
    Dave_61 Member Posts: 309
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    I want to thank everyone who recommended Charles Garrity to work on my system. He came to the house and gave everything a onceover. We had some wet insulation on one header near the boiler. When he took off the insulation, we found that the pipe was badly rusted and leaking steam. He replaced that pipe and pitched it better. He redid the wet return, which was partially clogged, and put in new main BigMouth vents. He was extremely knowledgable and very professional. I am confident in our system now and know it is piped properly and operating well. Thanks again. I highly recommend Charles to anyone in Western MA and he will be the first person I call when it comes time to replace our boiler.
    j a_2New England SteamWorksRomanGK_26986764589
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
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    Professionalism at its best...I always heard he was very good at his job...Charles..Garrity
    New England SteamWorks

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