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What is this on this radiator?

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Mail4tommo
Mail4tommo Member Posts: 80
edited August 18 in Radiant Heating

Curious to what this functions as? I'm assuming it's some type of steam trap based on the two pipe radiators .. but I have never seen one of these so I have to ask you guys.

This is the oddest system , was in foreclosure and anything in the basement that was copper was gutted..

Steam boiler

Each radiator has two pipes going to them.

Main vent on each return

Not a steam trap in sight...

One radiator was piped in as if it was a hot water radiator with a bleeder at the top..

But I'm curious to what these are on every radiator on the lower portion return side

Thank you in advance

IMG_20260818_145154.jpg IMG_20260818_145156.jpg

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,889
    edited August 18

    it is a return fitting proprietary to one of the vapor systems. you have a vapor system. some others will know which vapor system without digging through "The Lost Art of Steam Heating".

    your radiators have special metering valves that in combination with controlling the pressure at the boiler limit the amount of steam admitted to the radiator to less than the amount of steam that the radiator can condense so no steam makes it to that return fitting.

    if there is a bleeder on the radiators and knuckleheading in the basement then someone might have tried to convert it to hot water.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,687

    And you don't absolutely have to have the specialized inlet valves - just keep the pressure down (8 OUNCES per square inch or less).

    And you may actually be in luck — if someone did you the favour of removing all the copper in the basement, which you have had to remove yourself and which was most likely kludged anyway, you can replace the piping correctly and have a wonderful quiet heating system!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,811

    Look on the "trap" or the supply valve for a name that would be a clue.

    Also, look around the boiler for a boiler return trap

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,889
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1902274#Comment_1902274

    i know @Steamhead or @STEAM DOCTOR or @retiredguy will know exactly what that is. people have posted it here before.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,797

    @mattmia2 , you're right, it's some sort of water seal. I don't recognize the brand though.

    @Mail4tommo , we have some detective work here. I don't see any maker's info on those water seals. Are any of the original radiator shutoffs still there? If so can you find any name on them and post some pics?

    Also, do the main vents look original?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

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

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