New Venting for 135-Unit Apartment Buildings

Long Beach Ed · July 13

A community of a dozen six story 135-unit apartment buildings constructed in 1952 with one-pipe steam heating had an increase in uneven heat complaints.

Each building had two Pacific boilers, with a series of risers and a 200-foot long return to a vented receiver below basement floor level. Riser ends joined the returns with F & T traps, to feed the returns and vent the air through the receiver.

Those 200-foot returns looped around and under doorways. Over the years they lost their pitch and accumulated rust and scale. That blocked the free venting of air from the risers and mains to the receiver's vent.

The solution was to bypass the returns as a means of air venting and to add vents to the ends of the steam mains.

The problem was solved, and tenants are enjoying 558 radiators' improved heat distribution through faster venting.

Jamie Hall · July 13

Kinda surprised that the scheme using the F&Ts as main vents ever worked well at all… but your solution is the best!

Long Beach Ed · July 13

Sort of worked for 70 years, but not too consistently. If the returns are pitched and any dips or water traps looped to keep air flowing, they send the air to the receiver vent. As they aged, the flow of air slowed.

They would often hammer as the traps failed too.

Steamhead · July 14

Nice work!

pedmec · July 14

Well if the returns are restricting air flow then they will obviously restrict the condensate return. Did you try and use rebuild kits at the F&T traps. The elements in the traps could have failed and you wont be able to get air passed it. Using the receiving tank to vent the system on a boiler feed system is a standard practice. All my 2-pipe steam systems have boiler feed tanks. those F&T traps look like they have never been opened

Jamie Hall · July 14

Time for my more or less standard comment, I guess… F&T traps are lousy main vents. Yes, they do have that thermostatic element which is supposed to act as an air vent and close when steam hits it. I know. But… I'd very much rather see real live vents. Use the F&T to keep the steam out of the return and, if necessary and you have the pressure, push the condensate uphill a bit.

Long Beach Ed · July 14

The traps have been maintained and were all working well. The customer did not wish to service the returns, which dip below several doorways. That's what really should be done. There are huge lengths of mains in these buildings.

mattmia2 · July 14

Unless the returns have a vent path above the doorway they will form a trap and stop venting.

Long Beach Ed · July 14

The doorways were built with loops around them, but they were in poor condition; one reason we did this.

Mad Dog_2 · July 14

Great Save Fast Eddie!! Mad Dog

gerry gill_2 · July 17

Well done!!

New Venting for 135-Unit Apartment Buildings

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