Main Line Vent Problem
The radiators at the back of my house refuse to warm as quickly as those at the front. I was going to buy all new vents for them, but I thought that the problem might be the main line vent in the cellar. So I went down and checked this. I noticed that this main…
The radiators at the back of my house refuse to warm as quickly as those at the front. I was going to buy all new vents for them, but I thought that the problem might be the main line vent in the cellar. So I went down and checked this.
I noticed that this main vent is installed at a 45 degree angle from the main at the very end of the main at the angle where the pipe then drops to become the wet return. This main vent is a Hoffman No. 40 and it shows the signs of rusty water having dripped from its air vent and from around its base. When the system was on the other day, I saw water oozing out from these locations.
With my limited knowledge of steam systems and plumbing in general, I thought that the problem may be one (or a combination) of the following: 1) a partially clogged wet return, 2) a bad main vent, or 3) a main vent that needs to be repositioned vertically and raised a bit so that it is not directly attached to the main. (I’ve read that these main vents should be higher to keep them away from the condensate returning to the boiler?)
Can anyone advise me with any degree of confidence what it seems that I may be dealing with and how I can address it?
Gotcha, Thanks…
The difference is the #75 is generally considered by Hoffman to be a light-commercial-to-industrial device and it can potentially be disassembled, cleaned and put back into service if it fails by sediment buildup.
The Gorton 2 is a small-system’s throw-away device after about 10 years.
Sweet numbers. But is it 350% more than the #75 or the 4A? I’m thinking 4A. In either case it’s 350% and that’s one heck of a margin. Thanks MP.
SteamMan, the Gorton #2 vents 350% more air than the Hoffman 75.
i really like the counter guys at aqua, but a lot of their merchandise is downscale (except for the grundfos circulators on the no name boiler in their display)…chimerine on 782 dekalb is probably closer to you…small shop, quick in and out, unlike af supply in the same neighborhood
@MP & E-man – To be honest I have only ever purchased a Hoffman#75 model. The 4A and Gorton #2 are unknowns to me. Why do you prefer the Gorton over the Hoffman? I’d like to learn….
-SteamMan
Thanks, eman1234. I’ve shopped at Aqua Plumbing Supply on Atlantic, but I don’t think they carry Gortons.
park slope plumbing supply (16th and 5th ave)and 4th avenue boiler supply(garfield and 4th avenue) are my faves in brooklyn.. I use nothing but gortons in my jobs
Master Plvmber – where do you buy your Gorton No. 2’s? Anyone else have a spot where they get them? Thanks in advance.