Fig. 35. Steam furnace.
70. Equipment for Steam Heat. A steam-heating system consists of a boiler, a fire pot, pipes from the boiler leading to the radiators, and radiators (Fig. 35). On some systems, return pipes are provided to carry condensed steam or water back to the lower part of the boiler. A safety valve (Fig. 36) is attached to steam-heating systems instead of an expansion tank. This keeps the pressure of the steam in the boiler from becoming too great, and thereby prevents an explosion. The pressure gage (B, Fig. 35) must be set, and, when set, should only be changed by a person understanding it. Build and manage the fire for a steam boiler the same as for any stove or furnace. Keep water in the boiler at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so steam may form, for without it, the radiators will not be heated. Small valves are attached to most steam radiators. Their purpose is to let out air, which accumulates in the radiator. As soon as the steam begins to come into the radiator, it forces the air out of the valve. When it reaches the valve, the heat in the steam causes part of the valve to expand and close the outlet, which is small. When the radiator is hot, steam should not escape, provided the valves are in good working order. There is a gage (Fig. 37) furnished with each boiler which shows how much water is in it.
Fig. 36. Safety valve.
Keep enough water in the boiler to come within certain lines on the indicator. The top of one of these lines is usually six or eight inches from the top of the boiler. There is always some variation in the amount of water in steam furnaces on account of the formation and condensation of the steam in pipes and radiators. See that the boiler is never empty, but do not put in fresh water except when necessary.
Fig. 37. Water gage for
steam plant.
The space above the water in the boiler is left for steam. The loss of water from a boiler in good working order is thru the air valves in the radiators. If the furnace is properly managed, very little water should be lost during the course of a year, so there is little need for adding water.
Some furnaces have two pipes to the radiators. When steam is shut off from a radiator, the valve leading to the pipe which carries off the water from condensed steam must be closed, also, to prevent the pressure of the steam in the boiler from forcing water from the boiler up this pipe. This may happen because the pipe draining the water from the radiators enters the furnace near the bottom of the boiler. The steam being retained in the furnace presses down on the water and so may force water up the drain pipe, if it is not closed, instead of raising the safety valve.
Carelessness of this kind may work much damage, for by this means all the water from the furnace can be forced up into the radiators, leaving the boiler empty. This makes it important that every woman should understand the steam-heating system in her home.