Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Steam condensate return humming/vibrating

sean_pdc
sean_pdc Member Posts: 2
I have a 1.6mbtu steam system that has a condensate return system that is humming very loudly in certain units. Building is an older brick structure. Stand up cast iron radiators. Steam rises up to attic and drops down to each unit, enters radiators through a standard angle stop. Each radiator has a mepco steam trap. the resonance/vibrating is happening on a couple stacks and appears to be coming from the condensate return system. We've replaced a few angle stops and steam traps and that appeared to have stopped the issue. Day later we are getting the same vibration/resonance. Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Pumped return into the boiler?? Does the noise coincide with pump operation....it is really too obvious to suggest but WAG.

    Does each attic drop have a drip with trap?

    I work on a system designed this way and wonder where the vibs could come from.

    Best guess maybe valve with loose washer/disk on seat or maybe check valve in return line.

    Any steam in the return venting out of the pump?
  • sean_pdc
    sean_pdc Member Posts: 2
    Pump is operating fine and doesn't coincide with the issue.

    Each drop does not have a trap. Only traps are on the radiators themselves.

    I adjusted the system pressure down from 2psi to 1.5 and it seems to have lessened the vibration noise.

    Gonna end up talking to manager about replacing all steam traps and valves, most are original to system. probably 50+ years.
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 1,880
    @sean_pdc You might even be able to lower that pressure even more. Try another half pound down for starters and monitor the system.
    As to your comment about replacing the steam traps. You can rebuild most steam traps. The parts are commonly available at a much lesser cost than replacing a entire steam trap.

    Look up a company by the name of TP Tunstall. They will have replacement parts and rebuild kits for your steam traps. A much better and cost effective way to go than a full replacement.

    It will be a great improvement after some fifty years.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    Barnes and Jones also supply repair kits for traps.—NBC
    Intplm.
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    And, Mepco discs are available to do a simple repair to the existing trap and cap. I think there may be several for sale on Ebay at the moment.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
  • Joe_Dunham
    Joe_Dunham Member Posts: 52
    Trap manufacturers state that a reverse flow through trap can cause "singing". This can occur due to collapsing action of steam creating a lower pressure or Vacuum on the supply, especially on old cast iron radiators. Plus the supply risers are larger than the returns (greater volume) so they are subject to more collapsing action. You may try installing a check valve connecting the supply to the return somewhere on the main, with the arrow pointing towards the main. This will equalize pressure. if its an old Dunham System, there may have been a vacuum pump instead of the plain condensate pump. the Vacuum pump (just a big mechanical air vent) would insure lower pressure on the return not to mention much more efficient and quiet and thorough distribution of steam.
  • chrisj85
    chrisj85 Member Posts: 3
    I'm having this exact issue, also with a Mepco steam trap (1E-VST). It is "singing", consistently emitting a whistling sound at between 400-420Hz. Replaced the steam trap with a brand new one, still "singing". @sean_pdc were you able to identify the root cause? Any help would be greatly appreciated, this sound is driving me crazy
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    This is just a WAG but that might be a mechanical resonance issue.

    If you wrap your hand around one of the pipes (using something between the pipe and your hand so you don't get burned) does the sound change? If it does see if you can jam something between the pipe and something else to change the resonance point.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • chrisj85
    chrisj85 Member Posts: 3
    Thanks @BobC — Wrapping my hand around the steam trap doesn't make a noticeable difference, but if I jam something between the pipe and my steam-based PTAC unit it does seem to slightly attenuate the humming/whistling sound. The problem is — what's creating the sound to begin with...

    The whistling happens even when I shut the steam going into the unit and let the unit settle for 24 hours.. Mechanical resonance certainly makes sense, but the unit is on the 25th floor of a 50-floor building, so I don't know if mechanical resonance on the pipe would travel this far and also why the units directly below and above do not have this issue
  • dopey27177
    dopey27177 Member Posts: 887
    CHECK THE STEAM SHUT OFF VALVE TO THE UNIT.
    THERE MAY BE A LOOSE DISC OR WASHER IN THE VALVE.

    WHAT YOU HAVE IS DUNHAM METRO SYSTEM WITH A DOWN FEED RISER FEEDING INDIVIDUAL RADIATORS.

    IF YOU WANT TO REBUILD ALL THE 1E TRAPS (DUNHAM) NOW MEPCO IS STILL IN BUSINESS, WHY GO TO A GENERIC MANUFACTURER WHEN YOU CAN GET THE PERFECT SPEC OEM ITEM.

    jAKE
  • chrisj85
    chrisj85 Member Posts: 3
    Thanks for your help! The issue was a worn down actuator valve, which caused the whistling sound. After we replaced it, it worked perfectly. Wanted to post this here in case someone experiences this problem in the future :)