The Steamboating Forum

Yes they are, not that inportant on the vacum line in the middle but you never know.

swedtug wrote:Yes they are, not that inportant on the vacum line in the middle but you never know.

Actually, probably more important than you think. A leak in the vacuum line can cause a number of problems, not the least of which is allowing air into the steam going to the condenser, thus putting entrained oxygen in the condensate going to the boiler and creating "rust blisters" in the water space of the boiler. Air will leak past a threaded joint much easier than steam or water.