Steam Traps Explained: What Function Do They Perform in Your Boiler System?

As a property owner in New York City having work done on your boiler, you might have heard your service professionals talking about steam traps. Are steam traps still a mystery to you? If you’ve ever wanted steam traps explained, this is the blog post for you. Here’s the basic information you need, as well as facts about common problems we often see with our clients’ team traps.

First of All, Let’s Define Steam

The third phase of matter

To understand how steam traps work, it’s essential to go back to school and review what, exactly, steam is. You might recall from high school science classes that matter has different phases. Steam is one of the phases of water.

Below the freezing point, water is a solid: ice. When ice melts, which happens above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes a liquid.

When water exceeds the boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes a gas: steam. This is the steam we tap for radiator heat in so many New York City apartments each winter.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you. There are two more phases of matter beyond gas: plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates. Fortunately, we don’t have to trouble with those when working on boilers!

The Function of Steam Traps

Conservation of steam only

Steam traps are designed to keep steam generated by a boiler in the system so it can be reused. Trapping steam saves energy, which is not only good for the environment but good for your wallet as a property owner.

Steam traps remove air and condensate to hold pure steam. Condensate is steam that has cooled below 212 degrees (condensed) and returned to the liquid state. It has to be funneled back into the boiler via a tank and reheated before it can be used for heat again.

Removing condensate from the steam in your boiler system is essential. Leaving condensate in your steam can cause water hammer in your radiators and pipes. It can also result in corrosion. It makes the steam less efficient, which is undesirable.

Types of Steam Traps

Which do you have?

Depending on the size of your boiler system, you may have one steam trap, or you may have dozens distributed along the length of your steam pipes. The larger the property, the more likely you have multiple steam traps. Steam traps have a few different nicknames, but they can be identified by their basic mechanism of action.

By far, the most common type of steam trap is the mechanical trap, which uses a simple but elegant way of catching steam. A mechanical trap uses a float that detects the difference in density between steam and condensate. This type of trap resembles a bucket in its anatomy.

There are also thermostatic steam traps. As the name implies, they rely on temperature differentials to perform. They detect differences in temperature between steam and condensate at the same pressure. A sensor operates a valve that lets the unwanted condensate drain out. One advantage of thermostatic steam traps is that they are relatively easy to repair.

Less frequently used, thermodynamic traps utilize both pressure variations and volumetrics to distinguish between steam and condensate. This type of steam trap is smaller and less expensive, but it does lose some steam in the process, making it less efficient too.

Common Steam Trap Problems

The wrong steam trap for the boiler system

There are a number of places where a steam trap can go wrong, but you’ll never get efficient reuse of steam and removal of condensate if you don’t have the right trap to begin with. This is why it’s essential to have your steam trap installed by boiler experts and reassessed any time you make changes to the boiler system. The size of your property, the type of boiler you use, and your steam distribution structure all influence what type of steam trap is appropriate.

Failing in the open position

When steam traps fail, it’s usually when they’re open or closed (see below). Malfunctioning in the open mode is a more common occurrence. When this happens, you’ll find your boiler working harder than normal to produce the same amount of steam, which increases wear and tear on the boiler and ends up costing you money. You may have tenants complaining that they aren’t getting enough heat because there isn’t enough steam going to their radiators.

Failing in the closed position

Boilers that fail in the closed position have more condensate accumulating because it’s not released back into the boiler. Again, you won’t be able to produce enough heat but for different reasons. You may hear water hammer, too, when this occurs.

Other steam trap problems

We’ve been servicing boilers in New York City for nearly a century. During that time, we’ve seen all kinds of steam trap problems. Some other issues our clients run into include:

  • Oversized steam traps – in addition to choosing the wrong type of steam trap for a property it’s possible to install the wrong size too, causing the trap system to work harder than it has to
  • Dirt in the system – dirt is common in steam systems due to pipe scale, lack of proper water filtration, and the overuse of chemicals in boiler treatment, and it can cause clogging of valves and the malfunction of other steam trap parts.

Call Calray Boilers for Help with Your Steam Trap

New York City’s top boiler professionals

Before the next heat season begins this fall, it’s wise to have your entire boiler system checked and maintained by boiler experts like Calray Boilers. We can make sure your steam traps are ready to go once you start using radiators on your property. And of course, we’re available for steam trap problems during the colder months, should a concern arise. We use the latest technology, including visual, thermal, and acoustic inspections, to make sure your steam traps are performing as they should.

Call Calray Boilers today at 212-733-5506 to schedule a maintenance visit, or use our easy online form to book an appointment at your convenience.


Our Privacy Policy

Omnia Mechanical Group(the “Company”) strives to ensure the highest standards for property listings and customer information privacy. Please review the following statement to learn about our company practices and policies. Please be aware that our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time.

1. Purpose.

This Privacy Policy (“the Policy”) provides information on how the Company uses your personal information. By agreeing to the Policy, you agree to our collection and use of your personal information as described in the Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective for all new users of Sanitaryplumbing.com.

2. Personal Information.

You can browse some areas of omniagroup.nyc (“the Website”) without being a registered user. However, certain activities do require registration. (You consent to the transfer and storage of your information by registering with omniagroup.nyc).

3. Use of Information.

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe and user-friendly experience. For example, the Company may use your personal information to:

  • Improve our services and the Website’s content and layout;
  • Provide the services and necessary customer support you request;
  • Resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems;
  • Track and record customer satisfaction with our services;
  • Protect the Company against error and fraud;
  • Inform you of special promotions and announcements;
  • Enforce our agreements, terms, conditions, and policies; and
  • As otherwise described to you at the time of collection.

We may occasionally ask you to complete optional surveys. These surveys are used to improve and customize your experience with Sanitaryplumbing.com.

The Company always provides you the ability to opt-out of further communication such as promotions and surveys; see the Opt-Out section below.

The Company does not share any of your personal information with outside organizations, companies, individuals, etc. The only exception to this standard is if such a disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to any and all legal processes.

4. Links to Other Sites.

The Website may have links to other websites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. The Company is not responsible for the privacy practices of the content of those linked websites.

5. Safety & Security Precautions.

The Website has strict security measures in place to protect you and your information from fraud. Once your information is provided to Omnia Mechanical Group, we strive to ensure the confidentiality of your identity and information.

6. Opt-Out.

The Company provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving promotional and other non-essential, marketing-related communications from Omnia Mechanical Group. If you would like to opt-out of these select communications, please see any of the Company’s email communications and follow the directions indicated.

7. Account Protection.

Your password ensures the security of your account. When choosing a password, the Company suggests using various characters. It is highly recommended that you do not disclose your Sanitaryplumbing.com password to anyone. (If you do disclose your password or your personal information with others, you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account.) If the security of your password is compromised for any reason, please contact the Company immediately.

8. Accuracy of Information

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy of information for any and all of its properties on the Website, and is not responsible for any errors or misrepresentations (made by Renters, the Client, or otherwise).

9. Cookies

The Company may place a small cookie on your computer’s hard drive. This allows us to personalize your use on the Website. In order to maximize the functionality and usability of the Website, you must set your browser’s preferences to allow both permanent and temporary cookies.

10. Changing Your Personal Information.

Should your personal information change, please immediately update your information on the Website. This will ensure the accuracy of our records. The Company does retain personal information from closed accounts in order to comply with law and collect and disburse any fees owed.

11. Third Parties

This Privacy Policy addresses only the use of information we collect from you. Since omniagroup.nyc does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties. It is advisable that you consult with the management of third parties before you disclose your personal information to others.

12. General

We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on the Website. All amended terms are immediately effective after they are initially posted on the Website.

13. Privacy Policy Questions & Concerns

Questions and/or concerns regarding the Policy should be emailed to the following email address: info@omniagroup.nyc.