Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

Main Vent recs

Options
krmcgee
krmcgee Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam

Experienced my 1st winter with steam heat last year in the new (old) house and had some hissing radiator vents, and one sputtering water. I read a lot of this forum and Dan's book, all very helpful.

My question is about replacing my main vents: should I get Gorton #1, and does the height of the vent matter?

More details:

There are two main lines in my basement, similar in length about 2" diameter and each 30 ft long from header to the main vents. They vents say No. 4 Quick Vent Hoffman / Dole. I found one main vent was covered up by some paper, it looks like from a paint job long time ago (doh!) I removed that and tried to boil in vinegar and replaced it, it appears that didn't do the trick and still wasnt venting , this is the side of the house with the problematic rads. The other main vent was occasionally blowing out steam if i remember correctly.

Anyway, I think replacing these will be step 1 for me. (Yes I will be adding insulation before this winter, started on the pipes closer to the boiler first before running out of $.)

Good idea to get the Gorton No. 1? And these old vents seemed to be extended by ~2 inch nipples as you can see in the pics. should I keep the extnsions i.e. does height matter on the main vent?

IMG_5722.jpeg
IMG_5723.jpeg

Comments

  • SteamNow
    SteamNow Member Posts: 62
    edited August 10

    You generally want to vent the mains of a steam system as quickly as you can. A Gorton one will work, just like many others. But a Gorton two will vent three times faster. Yes, I keep the extensions, it can help prevent water from getting to the vent.

    The entire time that you have air in your system is time that your boiler is running at full power, but is being restricted because the heat can't get to the radiators. So you have 100% boiler gas usage, but not 100% radiator output, so you lose efficiency. I use gorton 2s, but if you do a full analysis you can determine the cost benefits for your system.

    Owner

    Steamnowrockford.com

  • PC7060
    PC7060 Member Posts: 1,876
    edited 2:01AM

    extensions are fine, keeps the vents away from any water that may be in the line. You can put a elbow on the one that’s right up against the joist and route it up inside the bay.

    @Steamhead or @STEAM DOCTOR can provide guidance on new vent size, they are the pros!

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,783

    Thanks for the kind words, @PC7060 !

    @krmcgee , I'd use the Gorton #2- one on each main. The #1 only vents at half the rate needed to fill the mains with steam in one minute at 1 ounce pressure. The #2 is faster than needed, but that won't hurt.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    SteamNowPC7060

Categories