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Steam valve installed on pipe elbow

Danger8
Danger8 Member Posts: 1
edited April 2021 in THE MAIN WALL
Hi,
I have a home built in 1931 with single pipe steam heat. A few weeks ago I noticed a leak when the ceiling paint started bubbling. I opened the ceiling to find an old steam valve installed in a pipe elbow. This is about half way between the boiler and the largest radiator in the house. I think the valve failed so I decided to change it with a new valve and used a vari valve. It seemed to work for a while but now that has also leaked. I’m also getting banging from the radiator. Does anyone have any idea what I should do here? 
Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! 


Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
    Is the boiler water level too high?

    Also- is there a vent at the end of the steam main?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,275
    I'm going to bet that that pipe has sagged, and that water is collecting in the elbow. Check the pitch of the pipe going in both directions -- and maybe add some hangers, or adjust them.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    If that is meant to be a main vent, it is woefully small, and in the wrong place. The main vent should be after the last radiator. You are burning a lot of extra fuel to squeeeeeeeze the air out of a constipated little orifice.
    The fact that it is leaking points to overpressure problems, as Jaimie has mentioned. Check that the pressuretrol is correctly set, and verified with a low pressure gauge, (0-3 psi). The pigtail may be plugged and causing the pressuretrol not to sense the pressure correctly.—NBC
  • Danger8
    Danger8 Member Posts: 1
    Thank you all for your responses, I will look into all of this immediately. I am not familiar with everything that you mentioned so I need to do some homework. I’ll work in it this week

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