O.E. Vapor System
I went to meet a customer today who had a gravity system to scope out the system. Their complaint was that a previous contractor used to come and bleed air from the system from time to time. Poking around each radiator was warm some hotter than others. I suspected that the original valves that had been replaced don't have orrfice plates in them. What I questioned was the fitting at the outlet of each radiator on the basement, 1st and 2nd floors. The third floor had none, but someone installed Gorton C vents on those two. I haven't run into this fitting before and wanted to get more insight on it. I attached pictures of the radiators and one close up of the fitting.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
Comments
-
don't remember the system but that is a return fitting for one of the vapor systems. if i recall it has a water seal and a ball in it. someone that recognizes it will tell you.
are any of the vapor specialties still near the boiler?
that one pipe radiator might be ok depending on how it is plumbed. the vent could be a problem depending on the specific vapor system.
0 -
That's an "O-E" Vapor system. It is covered in chapter 15 of @DanHolohan 's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating".
The fittings on the radiator returns are water seals which, assuming the steam pressure is kept low enough, will keep steam from getting into the returns.
The third floor radiator was probably added later, as during a remodel.
There is probably an air vent at the end of each dry (overhead) return in the basement. Can you post pics of these?
Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.
Baltimore, MD, USA
0 -
That makes more sense. Unfortunately I was in a hurry today trying to meet my better half to move her horse to a different barn. I'll contact the customer to get some more pics. My first thought was darn that looks alot like a Moaut water seal.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
0 -
I think Mouat, O-E, Richardson, Broomell, VECO, Wiley and other systems that used water seals all had the same basic influence.
Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.
Baltimore, MD, USA
4 -
Is it just me, or is that basement radiator being suspended just by the piping connections ???
0 -
Long shot on this but does a PDF of this book exist or anyone have a copy they would like to sell.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
0 -
No Jazzy....Do you see the two hooks grabbing the bottom of the radiator? Mad Dog
1 -
-
-
@Mad Dog_2 indeed there were grab hooks, when I first saw that my back hurt just looking at it to lift that thing up there!
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
1 -
Not sure if this is it, but sometimes you have to get off the Wall and visit the library
One way to get familiar something you know nothing about is to ask a really smart person a really stupid question1 -
Thanks I actually found a hard copy of the book at a online thrift bookstore and it should be arriving the next few days.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
1 -
I was able to find somewhat of an IOM for the O.E. Vapor system. Nerding out this afternoon reading it. My favorite part under the extra precaution " Boiler must be free from grease as the same will foam and throw water up in vapor mains"
I'll work on getting this scanned as a PDF.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
1 -
@offdutytech , when you do, see if @Erin Holohan Haskell will want this for the "Old Steam" section of the site's Heating Museum.
Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.
Baltimore, MD, USA
1 -
@Steamhead will do looks to be a great resource.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
0 -
Yes, thank you! - Erin
Forum Moderator
1 -
We've shared it here:
Thank you!
President
HeatingHelp.com1 -
On the last page, it says-
"Let us tell you how to convert unsatisfactory Hot Water, Steam or Vapor job into "O-E" system."
I love it!
Anyone else know of a hot-water system converted to Vapor? I've seen several.
Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.
Baltimore, MD, USA
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 87.8K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.3K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 59 Biomass
- 430 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 129 Chimneys & Flues
- 2.2K Domestic Hot Water
- 6K Gas Heating
- 123 Geothermal
- 170 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.8K Oil Heating
- 79 Pipe Deterioration
- 1.1K Plumbing
- 6.6K Radiant Heating
- 396 Solar
- 16.1K Strictly Steam
- 3.5K Thermostats and Controls
- 56 Water Quality
- 51 Industry Classes
- 51 Job Opportunities
- 18 Recall Announcements