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I don’t think my single pipe steam system has a main

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melo
melo Member Posts: 96
in Strictly Steam

I just noticed that my single pipe steam system doesn’t seem to have a main. It looks like it has one long run with T’s going to the first floor and second floor radiators.

The radiators themselves seems to be getting hot quickly enough. The end of the main radiator is the kitchen radiator and there seems to be a gorton vent on it. All the other radiators have the cheapo maid o mist.

Here is photo of the piping off the boiler.

Thoughts? Also noticed my boiler seems to run for 5 mins then turnoff for 1 minute before running again. I’m assuming it’s short cycling due to the vents being garbage at the radiators.

IMG_7945.jpeg
mattmia2

Comments

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,068

    Hello melo,

    The " one long run " is the Main.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    mattmia2Mad Dog_2
  • melo
    melo Member Posts: 96
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828878#Comment_1828878

    sorry I’m a moron

    I meant to say that it doesn’t have a main vent!

    Mad Dog_2
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,068

    I was wondering, it may not, the system may benefit by installing one. Post a picture of the far end of the main. Your short cycling is probably due to an oversized boiler tripping off on pressure.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Mad Dog_2
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,525

    @melo , how long is the main, and what pipe size?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,850
    edited December 2024

    cheapo maid o mist

    I think you meant to say: proudly made in the USA, design possibly copied by Gorton who tripled the price, happily passing air and stopping steam silently on thousands of radiators

    But get real Maid O Mist for $12 from Supplyhouse.com , not the copycat ones at the big box stores

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

    LRCCBJdelcrossv
  • melo
    melo Member Posts: 96
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828888#Comment_1828888

    you’re the first person to put it that way to be honest. I respect your opinion as you guys have been doing it for a while and would love to save money.

    Why does maid o mist have bad reputation where I live? (Big eastern city).

    Also, any issues with using the Hoffman adjustable vents?

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,567

    You used to be able to buy buy a maid o mist kit that had the air valve and 5 orifices so you could select what size of vent for just a little more than the cost of the vent itself, made it easy to balance radiators. Now you have to buy the orifice kit (5 sizes) and the vent separately, still very handy for initial balancing of the system.

    I've had MOM's on my system for over a decade with no failures.

    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    delcrossv
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,850
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828904#Comment_1828904

    trade pros get very opinionated about stuff 😅

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

    delcrossv
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 2,204
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1829119#Comment_1829119

    Yep. Seems Gorton has the east coast and Maid-o-mist is big in the Midwest. Like with hot water , everyone around here installs B&G.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
    ethicalpaul
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,525

    Maid-o-Mist doesn't have a #2- have to buy Gorton for that size.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 285

    Mad O Mist vents based in Illinois and Gorton based in New Jersey, which may explain the geographical preference mentioned by poster, delcrossv ,above. That doesn't mean some company products aren't also made in China

    Regards,

    RTW

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,850

    I don’t know what company you mean, but MoM boxes say “Made in USA”

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

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