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Air Vent Setting

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mmc239
mmc239 Member Posts: 94
in Strictly Steam
IMG_1137.png

I have this vent on a steam baseboard located in living room right above the boiler. It hisses so loud that we can’t hear each other. What setting should I have it on?

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861

    It's not the vent's fault. Do you have main venting installed? What pressure is your boiler allowed to run up to?

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • mmc239
    mmc239 Member Posts: 94

    I don’t believe there is a main vent installed. Would that be the same concept as the radiator ones? Just drill and yep one into pipe about the boiler?

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861

    there might already be a plugged port in the main pipe where it would go.

    After the last radiator runout and before the main turns downward to the wet return is the place to look

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,305
    edited October 2024

    Main vents have a faster venting rate than all but the fastest radiator vents. Their purpose is to fill the main quickly with steam so it will arrive at all radiator takeoffs at about the same time. This helps balance the system and reduces noise from the radiator vents.

    —
    Bburd
    ethicalpaul
  • mmc239
    mmc239 Member Posts: 94

    what size should the main vent be? 3/8, 1/2 inch?

  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,305

    If you give us the length and pipe size of your steam mains, we can tell you which main vents would work well.

    —
    Bburd
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,861
    edited October 2024
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1814813#Comment_1814813

    Like @bburd said, we can give some suggestions when we know the size of the main. Strangely, the physical size of the main vents' threads is not necessarily an indicator of their capacity (speed).

    The Gorton/Maid o Mist #1 can go on a 1/2" or 3/4" fitting where the Gorton #2 with three times the capacity has only 1/2" threads. Only history knows why

    The Gorton D is the exact same capacity as the #1 and it can have I believe 1/8" or 1/4" threads.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

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