Heating Help

gauge temp?...

@ November 23, 2009 2:26 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

i hope the media temp is OK. I got the reference from another post on this site. anyone?
the gauge i ordered is:
http://www.gaugestore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=33020

a couple more pics

@ November 23, 2009 10:20 AM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

I opened up the vent are a bit more and have a couple more pics of where the 2in pipe joins with the 1.25in pipe. Maybe there is a recommendation to move the actual vents. There is plenty of headroom if I break open the wood just above the last elbow.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407333550471872210
http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407333962935045970

Thanks.

0-3 Wika gauge ordered

@ November 23, 2009 9:07 AM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

from gaugestore.com ..

I wanted to note that gaugestore checkout failed using Firefox 3.5.5 and credit card. Even when I was on the phone and tried it. It worked fine using Internet Explorer 8.0

thanks!

@ November 22, 2009 10:20 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

thanks for the chart .. was very helpful. 

main sizes

@ November 22, 2009 10:18 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

Front Main (left vent) = 63.5ft @ 2in pipe + 2ft @ 1.25in pipe
Back Main (right vent) = 55ft @ 2in pipe + 2ft @ 1.25in pipe

Those trailing 2ft of 1.25" pipe is at the end between the last elbow of the 2in pipe and the wet return (where the 2 vents are currently located).

There are 3 risers off the back (right vent) main and 3 take-offs to 1st flr rads.
There is 2 risers off the front (left vent) main and 3 take-offs to 1st flr rads.

jpf

good idea..

@ November 22, 2009 8:41 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

about the safety valve redirection to the floor .. as it is, noone would ever be standing in front of it since it points towards the back wall, but I will go ahead and pipe as you suggested ..

the books are on my christmas list (although I may have to get them earlier) .. but my wife thinks i'm crazy for asking for them... DAN CAN I PICK THEM UP FROM YOU IN L.I. rather than have them shipped?

stupid question...but..

@ November 22, 2009 8:35 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

i assume that by "mains" you mean all the big overhead basement pipes and not the verticals ("risers"?) which lead to other floors or take-offs for 1st floor radiators. beginning from the header all the way to the currently depicted vents before the wet-return... i can do that now (or once I find my calipers).. don't have a pocket-rocket :-(

well look at that....

@ November 22, 2009 8:16 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

i opened up the wall patch and low and behold .. more vents!
[url=http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407115816743466066]http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407115816743466066
.. the left one is a Hoffman Siphon Air Valve #1 and the right one is a Hoffman Ventor #40... these vents are indeed at the end of the runs, just before the wet return, so I assume these are properly placed, although perhaps not properly oriented

additionally, the abandoned buried return... below the right leg...
[url=http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407115988241515474]http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#5407115988241515474

i think you're right

@ November 22, 2009 7:40 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

thanks nbc...
just before checking replies to the post, i went down and had another look around .. I found that it looks like the wet return was pulled from behind the wallboards to a plain-in-sight perimeter run around the basement. Without opening the wall where they seemed to screw in a patch covering, i'm guessing that the return was indeed buried and run through the floor...i'm impressed by your insightfulness.

yep the 0-3 is going be ordered tomorrow...i assume that the gauge(s) need a pigtail..the original gauge was a Fitzgibbons 0-30 Syphon Gauge but that was dead upon my arrival...i've since added the 0-30 (prior to finding this forum) but fear that it is now also dead due to missing pigtail. if I remove it and dry it out will it revive? are there methods for this task? 

before ordering the new venting, I'm going to do some measuring of main length and diameter and post the data in case anyone has a more specific parts list for vents and save some shipping.

i will also investigate moving the venting to other sections of the mains. i fear that it may involve driling and tapping .. but more on that after deeper investigation...i'm also not sure where I may have clearances for the 6+inch gorton #2.

Perhaps this will help ..

@ November 22, 2009 6:17 PM in Different pressuretrols types?

PA404A PRESSURETROL. MAKES CIRCUIT AT SETPOINT PRESSURE FALL; BREAKS AT SETPOINT & DIFF. ON PRESSURE RISE. ADJ ADDITIVE DIFF: 1-5 PSI. SAFETY FOR STEAM HTG BOILERS.

PA404A1025 PRESSURETROL SPST SWITCHING. BREAKS ON PRESS RISE. RANGE 3 TO 15 PSI. RANGE .2 TO 1.0 KG/CM2. SUBTRACTIVE DIFF. 1 180.55 12 0.8 0003 GEN
http://customer.honeywell.com/honeywell/ProductInfo.aspx/PA404A1025

PA404A1033 RANGE .5 TO 9PSI (.1 TO .6KG/CM2) WITHOUT LUGS TRADELINE
http://customer.honeywell.com/honeywell/ProductInfo.aspx/PA404A1033

I couldn't find a 1092 reference.

Additionally, here is the brochure for all Honeywell Pressure controls.
http://customer.honeywell.com/techlit/pdf/63-0000s/63-9727.pdf

My steam system tune-up notes.

@ November 22, 2009 5:30 PM in Looking for a Steam Pro for site survey visit

I have tried the F.A.P. but didn't find any good steam folks near me in Forest Hills, Queens, NY (zip 11375). I'm interested in a critique and any recommendations for an old steam system which came with my new house purchase.

I have an old one-pipe steam system powered by a Fitzgibbons 400 boiler with a 8GPM Tankless Water Heater for Domestic HW with a Beckett Oil Gun.

The home is about 3500sq ft 3-floor semi-detached true brick construction with 14 radiators throughout. (6 on 1st flr, 5 on 2nd, 3 on 3rd).

The one near-boiler vent I found is a Gorton No. D. I have a Honeywell Aquastat (set to 170degF) and just ordered a 0-16oz Vaporstat to supplement my 0.5-9 Honeywell P-trol.

My header is all asbestos wrapped with 2 mains headed in different directions. My gauge is currently a 0-30 but I'm going to get the Wilka 0-3 which was recommended in these Forums.

All my rads get hot no problem but I'm hoping to work towards efficiency, speed and oil savings.

There are a couple of things that I'm unfamiliar with straight away: 
-- a mystery pipe coming from the floor
-- 2 black handled brass valves near the water sight
-- a plug at the front of the boiler near top .. skim port?

I've uploaded pictures here: [url=http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#]http://picasaweb.google.com/jpf321/Fitzgibbons400Boiler#

Any help or thoughts is appreciated. Thanks.

....

@ November 20, 2009 2:42 PM in How to measure Radiator Sq Ft?

Thanks for the post and the nudge in the right direction. I appreciate the quick response. 

How to measure Radiator Sq Ft?

@ November 20, 2009 8:48 AM in How to measure Radiator Sq Ft?

I'm trying to figure out how to measure the sq ft of my radiators .. it is as simply as I found online .. "multiply by the # of rad
sections---thus, a 24 section rad 1/2' wide and 1.5' high = .5 X 1.5 =
.75 sq/ft X 24 = 185 sq.ft. X 170 = 3060 btu/hr as the heat output for
this rad. " ..

I have a 1-pipe steam system with radiators throughout the house.

I just found this online too .. has a table which provides Heating/sq. ft. but it says it comes from the manufacturer of that specific brand... [url=http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/repairs/Mechanics-Household/Forms-Of-Radiators.html]http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/repairs/Mechanics-Household/Forms-Of-Radiators.html

On another note .. does painting the radiators silver (or any particular color or painttype metallic) affect the radiation?
Wow .. I just found the table on this page .. http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/repairs/Mechanics-Household/Radiator-Finishings.html It seems that painting a radiator does matter .. and it seems like WHITE is the best choice. But I'd like to hear from the group.

Thanks,

jpf