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Missing main vents

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jlc229
jlc229 Member Posts: 5
in THE MAIN WALL

I have 1 pipe steam system (house built 1920) and have been learning more about it. I’ve been looking for my main vents and I don’t see them. All of the main piping is exposed in the basement. I just replaced all of the vents on the radiators but worried that without the main vents I’m going to have issues ? This is the only place where it looks like there might have been a vent? There are 2 main pipes that split to either side of the house, and I couldn’t see anything at all on there side.

IMG_1772.jpeg

so should I get main vents ? And how should I go about it ?

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,870

    look for where the end of the mains turn down to the floor. They should have put a reducing tee there for the main vent to fit into.

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

  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,465
    edited January 2025

    Not if it was originally coal @ethicalpaul. There is an 1/8” plug in the picture. That could be removed and venting added. It’s certainly not ideal as it looks like it’s on a slight angle. Theres also a concentric reducer on the horizontal…where are you located @jlc229 ?

    ethicalpaul
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 3,034

    @jlc229 An FYI. Move that PVC pipe or add an insulating barrier between the PVC pipe and steam pipe. That is a leak waiting to happen.

    bburd
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,870
    edited January 2025

    true enough @Danny Scully but mine was originally coal and had a plugged tee at the end of the main.

    Of course I don’t know who or when that was added, but someone at some point was thinking “a vent should go here”

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

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