Heating Help

Steam trap

Help on this one please

trap

Looks like an old school F&T trap  with an external T part,  hard to say, describe   where the piping is coming from and going to

I think

that's a "float trap/air eliminator" as described in chapter 15 of Lost Art. It is the only place where air is vented from the system.

Is this device on the dry return near the boiler?

Steam trap

Yes the trap is located on the return

I agree.

It's a central air eliminator. The float keeps the boiler water from flowing out the vent hole. It's not a steam trap.

Looking at it

Sideways I believe and my first thought was also some kind of vent.

trap

Take a temp. reading from inlet to outlet, if the temp is the same this would indicate a problem with the trap, it can be replaced with a Hoffman F&T trap. there would be extensive repiping

no trap

Thanks Dan for the clarifiiation  looked like an old trap but the piping did not seem right

I'm glad you asked.

A trap in that spot would have hurt. 

Steam trap

Thank you for the info, now for 64 thousand dollar question, what can replace it.

Is it broken?

If so, a high-capacity main vent. But if it still vents I'd leave it.