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CA Dunham Co Steam Traps

GaHoo
GaHoo Member Posts: 1

First time poster here and new to steam heat. We recently moved into an older home that uses a 2 pipe steam system from a converted coal boiler. We've noticed that around a quarter of the radiators will not heat when the boiler fires. I've read the majority of "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" and many of the articles on this site, which have been quite helpful. I think the issue with these radiators is with the return steam traps at the radiators. A few of the radiators have more modern steam traps from the 1950s by Illinois Co and Hoffman Co, which were easy to find replacement parts through Tunstall or Barnes and Jones. However, in the oldest portion of the home there are steam traps from CA Dunham Co. In the limited research I've been able to find, this was a company that started around the turn of the last century and operated independently until their merger with Bush in the 1950s. Both Tunstall and Barnes and Jones list replacement parts for Dunham-Bush Co. Does anyone know if those parts are compatible with CA Dunham co steam traps? I've attached pictures of the traps in case that would help. I'm hoping someone has already run into this issue and found a solution before I reach out to the companies that manufacture the replacement parts.
Thanks!
Matt

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,176
    Tell either Dunstall or Barnes & Jones what traps you have and I'd be mightily surprised if they didn't have exactly what you need in stock.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    ethicalpaul
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    Tell either Dunstall or Barnes & Jones what traps you have and I'd be mightily surprised if they didn't have exactly what you need in stock.

    This.

    Also, Dunham-Bush still exists under the name MEPCO.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    I would wait until winter is over, and remove one of each type of trap internals, and send them to Barnes and Jones, to be sure you get an exact replacement.
    Don’t forget to look for, and check the critical crossover traps, while you are at it. Call them first to get the name of the person to whom these parts should be sent to.—NBC
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    The trap shown is labeled #1. I would guess that the current replacement disc for a Dunham, Dunham Bush, or Mepco 1E would also work. I see them at state supply for reasonable price.
    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
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    The trap shown is labeled #1. I would guess that the current replacement disc for a Dunham, Dunham Bush, or Mepco 1E would also work. I see them at state supply for reasonable price.

    Depends. We've run into some of those early #1 traps and they do not always take the same repair kits as later ones.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    That's extremely cool that the label wasn't painted over 6 decades ago!
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    mattmia2
  • jacobsond
    jacobsond Member Posts: 90
    Ive used a few of the mepco ML9606 repair cartridge for the Dunham Bush 1E Discs when the sealing surface is pitted. The 1/2 in mostly. They make several sizes if you don't just want to replace the trap.


    coming to you from warm and sunny ND