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

Options
Steamhead (in transit)
Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
in THE MAIN WALL
To skim, you open a plug on the side of the boiler, screw a pipe into it, carefully raise the water to the level of the pipe, heat the water until it almost boils, then slowly add water until it flows out the pipe into a bucket or drain. The oil that sits on top of the water should come out first.

This is detailed in Dan's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating". Highly recommended. Get yours on the Books and More page of this site.

<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=367&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"</A>

Comments

  • Len_8
    Len_8 Member Posts: 17
    main vent

    I replaced a hoffman #75 main vent with a gortons #2 main vent. The vent is at the end of the main. It is connected to a riser that was used for a rad that no longer exists. It is about 10 inches off the main on a riser that is 45 deg,then there is a elbow then a small straight piece of pipe to another elbow that points to the basement ceiling . The vent it threaded into that. Is this setup ok? I don't hear any air coming from vent or closing off like i did with the hoffman. Thanks
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Should be fine

    if the vent is the right size, you won't hear air rushing out of it.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Len_8
    Len_8 Member Posts: 17
    Main vent

    I have about 48ft of main on a one pipe system. and diameter of 2". But first 8' looks a bit bigger maybe 2 1/2 or 3". Is that vent good enough? Thanks steam head for the reply back.
  • Ben_7
    Ben_7 Member Posts: 1
    main vent

    Can someone tell me if Gortons #2 main vent is enough on a 48' of main. The first 8 ' is alittle bigger probably 2 1/2 " run. Rad's acting funny . Some are hissing louder then ever ,one lets out alot of air after boiler kicks off, it will hiss for a good minute to a minute and ahalf. I am totally confused with this. Thanks
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    It should work fine, Ben

    your boiler water may have some oil sitting on top of it. This interferes with the steam leaving the water. With a larger main vent the steam will want to leave the boiler faster, and would have to bully its way past the oil. Have you tried skimming the boiler to remove the oil?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Unknown
    Unknown


    I'd install 6 gorton # 2's.
    5 to cover the cubic ft. of air for the main vent open pipe and 1 to covor the cubic ft. of air in the main.
  • Len_8
    Len_8 Member Posts: 17
    main vent

    Thanks for the reply steamhead. I am a rookie at this,so this might sound wrong, but by skimming ,would draining the water out of the boiler until you don't see any in sight glass considered to be skimming. Thanks
This discussion has been closed.

Categories