Plumber and Heating guy here-Great video. Unfortunately most of us that learned what you explained have retired. And the next generation is busy hanging condensing units on walls. There aren’t many steam systems left- at least in northern New England where I am from. You have a good idea, open a consulting school. I would love to share what is in my head, but the next generation doesn’t seem to want to learn about the old ways. Sad. I guess that I will take my lead/ oakum caulking, large pipe soldering and other skills to my grave with me.
I have a question..if that fails can the unit not read any thermostat you install....my unit is not working with any thermostat I put...we jump it from thermostat wires it works fine and from the unit we jump it and works...but not with any thermostat I've installed been thru many thermostats 😩
Spec'ed a vaporstat and Ward US made fittings on my last steam boiler. Skim port and flush valves as well. Cut in at 6 Oz and cutout at 14 oz.Oz. All thanks to Dan Holohan and The Wall, especially Steamhead in Baltimore. I miss my steam.
Fantastic video. I was gonna make a video of the churches boilers. No pressure t's, no pig tails, no nothing. Your best work is this type of work on youtube. Youre a fantastic teacher. Youre a natural. You just taught an autistic kid how to use and adjust a pressure t. I know im functioning and all that, but still, one video usually doesnt do it for me. I have to repeat shit multiple times in repetition like muscle memory. Think about how much of an impact that has to make for me to be able to learn this info and be confident in 1 video. it takes someone special.
Sounding just like Dan Holahan! Thanks for the tips. We don’t really have much hydronic or steam heat here in NC (at least in the resi and light commercial world) but when I do encounter it I have a good idea what I’m doing from learning with you.
I would also recommend that the pressure gauge be replaced or calibrated to ensure accuracy. This is something I highly recommend when preforming ASME CSD-1 Boiler Testing, required by some states on Commercial Boilers.
Omg. My guy just finished told me the exact same thing. Also, have the same upgrade 😂 Did you connect the two wires to the top and bottom of the new vaporstat?
Not sure why I watched the pressuretrol tuning ad... 😁 But you never know when I might find a steam boiler in Texas in a house! 🤠👍 I wonder how that pigtail could be improved to prevent potential safety issues from happening, as in reality the only thing if that goes bad, would be the pressure relief valve and just start venting water into the basement.
well, Dan Hallohan the master of steam said that he had a screwdriver that only turned counterclockwise, which means he always went to service calls that had problem with steam heat, and all he had to do is turn the screwdriver to the left to lower the pressure
Great video. What is a normal on/off cycle going off the pressuretrol? My pressuretrol is set correctly with cut out at 1 1/2 lb, and cut in at 1/2 lb. Once my boiler gets up to pressure, it cycles 3 min on, 1 1/2 min off until t-stat is satisfied .
@@marcinmerrimack1726 and short cycling is exactly why so many end up with the main pressure cranked and a large differential. someone trying to curb the short cycling. 🤡
I believe it is oversized. So what is normal ? Ex: 5 min on/off? I also read/ watched somewhere that if the boiler is properly sized and piped perfect, and the radiators are vented properly, then technically there should be no pressure building up since the steam and condensation are about even..
You’re right. In a perfect world, the boiler output matches the radiation and only a few ounces of steam pressure is created. The boiler would cycle only by the thermostat. But boiler oversizing is the norm and when it has to run for extended periods (from a large setback), it’s typical for the pressuretrol limit to eventually be reached. If you’re routinely reaching 1 1/2 lbs of pressure even when the heated space is within a degree or two of the thermostat setting, your boiler is either grossly oversized, the main venting is insufficient, or the boiler water level is surging because of contaminates (oil).
Another thing to consider is if you have a one pipe steam system you should change your main vent to a Gorton #1 main vent or if you have the main a BArns and Jones big mouth Vent. Because the faster those main vents fill the faster the house warms and the least the boiler runs. When I first bought my house I wondered why my house would take so long and to heat and it was always uneven. The first floor would always be hot while the second floor would stay cool. Ever since I chance my main vent from a Hoffman #4 main quick vent to a BIG Mouth Vent and buying the correct vents for my steam radiators everything heats up nice and even.
Plumber and Heating guy here-Great video.
Unfortunately most of us that learned what you explained have retired. And the next generation is busy hanging condensing units on walls.
There aren’t many steam systems left- at least in northern New England where I am from.
You have a good idea, open a consulting school.
I would love to share what is in my head, but the next generation doesn’t seem to want to learn about the old ways. Sad.
I guess that I will take my lead/ oakum caulking, large pipe soldering and other skills to my grave with me.
Many years ago i always looked for a pressutrol video but never could find one. This video going to go viral hahahahaha
The right screwdriver and a gallon of blinker fluid will get you going in the right direction. Keeping it real Mr. Diack as always.
I have a question..if that fails can the unit not read any thermostat you install....my unit is not working with any thermostat I put...we jump it from thermostat wires it works fine and from the unit we jump it and works...but not with any thermostat I've installed been thru many thermostats 😩
Spec'ed a vaporstat and Ward US made fittings on my last steam boiler. Skim port and flush valves as well. Cut in at 6 Oz and cutout at 14 oz.Oz. All thanks to Dan Holohan and The Wall, especially Steamhead in Baltimore. I miss my steam.
Love Steam
Fantastic video. I was gonna make a video of the churches boilers. No pressure t's, no pig tails, no nothing. Your best work is this type of work on youtube. Youre a fantastic teacher. Youre a natural. You just taught an autistic kid how to use and adjust a pressure t. I know im functioning and all that, but still, one video usually doesnt do it for me. I have to repeat shit multiple times in repetition like muscle memory. Think about how much of an impact that has to make for me to be able to learn this info and be confident in 1 video. it takes someone special.
Thanks for the video, Mikey. 👍
Sounding just like Dan Holahan! Thanks for the tips. We don’t really have much hydronic or steam heat here in NC (at least in the resi and light commercial world) but when I do encounter it I have a good idea what I’m doing from learning with you.
Vapor stat is the correct use I bench set them with a air bulb 💡 much more accurate look up industrial instrumentation calibration will teach you lots
Thanks for the tip
Mikey! You rock sir! Have a great weekend!
Thanks! You too!
I love me a matched set of clockwise and counter clockwise-wise screwdrivers…worth their weight in gold 🏆
Do you have an Amazon affiliate link to the counterclockwise screwdriver?
I have one on a property that must be 80 years old. It's a little black box, Minneapolis Honeywell. Cut in is set to 2. On a pig tail.
Little Dan Holahan action with the screwdriver reference :)
I would also recommend that the pressure gauge be replaced or calibrated to ensure accuracy. This is something I highly recommend when preforming ASME CSD-1 Boiler Testing, required by some states on Commercial Boilers.
Omg. My guy just finished told me the exact same thing. Also, have the same upgrade 😂 Did you connect the two wires to the top and bottom of the new vaporstat?
Thanku 😊
Nice 👍🏼 information ℹ️ 😊
Stay connected
Another good lesson. Liked the counter-clockwise screwdriver!
Plus it’s the same price as the other ones contractors use!
Straight out of “the lost art or steam heating”
Not sure why I watched the pressuretrol tuning ad... 😁 But you never know when I might find a steam boiler in Texas in a house! 🤠👍 I wonder how that pigtail could be improved to prevent potential safety issues from happening, as in reality the only thing if that goes bad, would be the pressure relief valve and just start venting water into the basement.
using a brass or NON-BLACK pigtail will help with it NOT getting clogged
Proper maintenance help’s also
Nice video very informative
Thank you. That was my goal.
Good job Mike.
Thank you @JohnWalker890
well, Dan Hallohan the master of steam said that he had a screwdriver that only turned counterclockwise, which means he always went to service calls that had problem with steam heat, and all he had to do is turn the screwdriver to the left to lower the pressure
Great video. What is a normal on/off cycle going off the pressuretrol? My pressuretrol is set correctly with cut out at 1 1/2 lb, and cut in at 1/2 lb. Once my boiler gets up to pressure, it cycles 3 min on, 1 1/2 min off until t-stat is satisfied .
That’s much too much cycling. Either your main venting is insufficient or the boiler itself is oversized.
@@marcinmerrimack1726 and short cycling is exactly why so many end up with the main pressure cranked and a large differential. someone trying to curb the short cycling. 🤡
I believe it is oversized. So what is normal ? Ex: 5 min on/off? I also read/ watched somewhere that if the boiler is properly sized and piped perfect, and the radiators are vented properly, then technically there should be no pressure building up since the steam and condensation are about even..
You’re right. In a perfect world, the boiler output matches the radiation and only a few ounces of steam pressure is created. The boiler would cycle only by the thermostat. But boiler oversizing is the norm and when it has to run for extended periods (from a large setback), it’s typical for the pressuretrol limit to eventually be reached.
If you’re routinely reaching 1 1/2 lbs of pressure even when the heated space is within a degree or two of the thermostat setting, your boiler is either grossly oversized, the main venting is insufficient, or the boiler water level is surging because of contaminates (oil).
Mikey,
What was the easter egg in yesterdays video?
Driving in the wrong direction to the job
Thanks for the reply. Love the videos, keep up the great work! @@PipeDoctor
I keep that screwdriver right next to my rubber magnet 😅
Simple the best master plumber. Michael uk care home
Love ❤️
Ahh 😂the ole lefthanded screwdriver
love that one
Have you ever run into a boiler Steam that works in a vacuum
I've worked on a system a couple years ago (Covid-19) messed up time frame - for a home in Valley Stream that used a vapor vacuum system.
Is a left handed scrwdriver like a left handed tape measure. I think only one of them is real
More steam isn't better, less is better.
Thats what SHE said
@@PipeDoctor buwahahaha
MFP!
First lol
Hi
Another thing to consider is if you have a one pipe steam system you should change your main vent to a Gorton #1 main vent or if you have the main a BArns and Jones big mouth Vent. Because the faster those main vents fill the faster the house warms and the least the boiler runs.
When I first bought my house I wondered why my house would take so long and to heat and it was always uneven. The first floor would always be hot while the second floor would stay cool. Ever since I chance my main vent from a Hoffman #4 main quick vent to a BIG Mouth Vent and buying the correct vents for my steam radiators everything heats up nice and even.
To add to that would be to master vent the risers .
Gorton #2 vents faster than the #1. The big mouth has the highest venting capacity.