Vent heads
Overview
Vent heads are fitted vertically at the end of steam vent lines to discharge dry steam safely to atmosphere at low velocity. By separating condensate before discharge, they help reduce nuisance, limit corrosion around nearby equipment and create a cleaner venting arrangement in the boiler house. Typical applications include blowdown vessels, condensate recovery packaged pumps, boiler feedtanks and hot water storage tanks where flash steam or vented vapour needs to be released more safely. Spirax Sarco vent heads are available in stainless steel for long service life and low maintenance once installed. They are often selected as the final component in a wider venting package rather than as a standalone item, especially where site safety and surrounding equipment protection are priorities.
Related boiler-house venting routes
Vent heads usually complete a broader discharge or vent package. If the vent stream starts from a flash vessel or blowdown arrangement, compare blowdown vessels. Where the vent duty belongs to feedwater storage or atmospheric deaeration, continue into deaerators.
If the wider installation is part of returned-condensate equipment, review condensate recovery systems.
Continue your boiler house venting selection
Vent heads are usually selected to finish a wider boiler house venting arrangement around blowdown, feedwater or condensate return equipment.
Link venting with blowdown discharge safety
Use blowdown vessels when the vent head will form part of a wider blowdown discharge arrangement handling flash steam from boiler blowdown water.
Support atmospheric feedwater systems
Review feedtanks when the vent duty relates to atmospheric deaeration, feedwater storage or flash steam mixing around the boiler house.
Coordinate venting with condensate return equipment
Go to condensate recovery systems when the vent line belongs to a packaged pump or condensate return arrangement rather than a blowdown duty alone.