Heating Help

Defective Gorton#1?

Yesterday, I installed a brand new shiny Gorton #1. I heard a blowing sound from it during a firing cycle for longer that seemed warranted. It's next door neighbor, (a two year old #1) was silent. I pulled the new one, let it cool down, and the darn thing was stuck open (I also noticed that my VXT feeder had kicked on in the last 24 hours, which is rare, so my boiler was clearly losing steam). It took a pretty good slam on a counter top to knock the interior mechanism loose. Is it defective?

Anything's possible

but it might have had some dirt caught in it too. Rinse it out and try it again. 

clean with?

thanks steamhead.
should i use a detergent, or something else to clean it?

Just water

turn the vent upside down, fill it with water, shake it a few times then turn it right side up and let it drain. If this doesn't solve the problem, return it.

cleaned, but

still wide open... steam pouring out of it. sending it back to pex supply. i wish my local suppliers carried these.  i know the gortons are preferable, but what is an equivalent Hoffman to a #1?

Vent Sizes.

The Hoffman #75 has 1 1/2 times more venting that a Gorton #1. It's an excellent vent but pricey in comparison to the Gortons. It has about 1/2 the venting capacity of a Gorton #2.
- Rod

tall hoffman

thanks rod - your post reminded me that the 75 is taller in stature than the gorton (i think), and i have some ceiling height constraints; the smaller gortons were a better fit. if the replacement is a problem, i may go this direction though... thx.

Air Velocity in main vnts

One of the reasons I advocate massive venting on mains is to keep the air velocity down. This will help to keep the vents clean and unobstructed. If you have undersized, or even barely adequate venting capacities, the outrush of air will be more likely to carry bits of rust and other filth which could plug up the vent.--NBC

Stuck Gortons

I've run across several new-out-of-the-box Gorton #2s and #1s that were stuck.

Yes some vents do not work out of the box

I return them and get new ones. never had a question on it. THIS is why I buy from a wholesaler not online.

blow your vents ...

I also tend to give a new vent an up-blow and down-blow test, sometimes even at the counter. To see if it behaves properly. Especially blow before I take the time to pull the old one and install the new one.