We just installed a four–section Smith 19 Mills boiler in “the old church in town.” Of course we read Chapter 15 on vapor systems in your book, The Lost Art of Steam Heating, first. We replaced the pressuretrol with a vaporstat, which we set at about 6 ounces with a 4–ounce differential. However, the burner is cycling every 30 seconds once steam is being produced, and I know that’s not good. Having missed Mass in this church for the last 30 years or so, I was not in tune with how often the old unit cycled, but this seems too short. Any input on this? I am assuming this is a vapor system only because it has one of those “cast-iron ham” steam traps at the end of the return from the radiators. The picture in Chapter 15 of The Lost Art of Steam Heating is exactly what we are looking at in the old church. We do have steam traps as well on the radiators, and the end-of-line steam traps are not bypassing. All the radiators are heating but one, which may have a bad trap on it.
Dan replies: The problem you’re having here is a direct result of your having missed Mass for so long. I figure you’re being punished.
