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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
hj............Saw a picture on another forum, from the attic of a home with a steam heating system. It was a large brass tank (1800's?), riveted, with a sight glass....any ideas?
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Author:
packy (MA)
are you sure it was steam?
you can't have a water level as high as that with steam... but you can have it that high with a hot water system.
no auto fill and the expansion tank was in the attic. the water level was kept at the desired level by adding as needed from the attic.
i can't remember but i think the tank was not tight but had an open pipe at the top. the heated water expanded into this tank and settled back down when it cooled.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
It was an "open hot water system". The tank was filled with water until it came out of the overflow pipe. The sight glass was so the water level could be monitored so it did not run out of water before being refilled.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
What keeps the attic tank from freezing?
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
All gravity systems had their expansion tanks in the attic. This house has a steam system. I was wondering whether this was just to supply running water to the home?
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Author:
hj (AZ)
It is in line with the radiators, which had an overhead main.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Not unless the house has a gravity system. A pressure system would NEVER have a gauge glass on it.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
The pipes have been disconnected. I was thinking, pre-electric running water. A servant pumps the water up, and can monitor the sight glass?
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Author:
hj (AZ)
NOT very likely. Unless it was a very high water table, a pump where the person could see the glass would NOT be able to pump any water.
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