What Is an Air Scoop?

OK, I know this is probably a really dumb question, but I keep reading about air scoops on here. What is an air scoop? Is it something you buy or is it the way the piping is arranged? Do I have to have one? I don't see anything unusual on my oil boiler that looks like an air scoop. Please educate the ignorant.

Thanks,

Jeff

Here you go. It uses a shaped path to get any air present to a vent and out of your heating system. Air is a great insulator and eats your system from the inside out. It is needed.

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It is something you buy to remove air from your system.
Amtrol is one brand but there are many others also.

normally a diaphram tank is on the bottom an an air auto bleeder on top.

it basically catchs air off the top of hte water as it passes thru it and releases it from the system.

Air is a great insulator and eats your system from the inside out. It is needed.

Maybe a Nit, but it is the oxygen in the air that eats the system. If you have a system that leaks, and needs makeup water, the fresh water will bring in fresh oxygen and promote corrosion. In a single pipe steam system that uses those "air eliminators" (not the right name) fresh air and oxygen goes into the system on every cooldown.

If you have a sealed, non-leaking system the oxygen in the water binds to the steel/iron in the system (as surface rust) and stays still. As long as you add no more water all is well.

The air eliminator is wanted to prevent gurgling and air locks in the pipes.

Systems that use a ceiling hung expansion tank don't normally have air scoops installed.

I currently have a ceiling hung expansion tank on the oil boiler and will be installing a second ceiling hung tank on the coal boiler, so I guess I will be ok.

Jeff