Where to get new recessed steam radiators?

jasonw86

Two old steam radiators in my house are giving out - one 19h x 28w the other 24h x 32w.
Want to replace with similar sized radiators for the an ideally easy swap and install. Any suggestions where I can buy them online (or should I just go to a plumbing supply house)?

Steamhead

If the inside portion is what's going bad, we can just replace that part. What seems to be the problem with it?

jasonw86

the white one just doesn't seem to be releasing much heat - adjusted it and it didn't seem to make a difference. The grey one is LOUD whenever it's on, clicking, gurgling, banging, etc - it is in my bedroom and wakes me up every night when it's on.

ChrisJ

I've never worked with a convector, which is what you have, but my amateur guess would be your problems are caused by either not enough pitch on the radiator or those super fast vents you have on them, or both.

I highly doubt there's anything actually wrong with the convectors themselves.

They need to be pitched back towards the pipe (the vent needs to be higher) so they drain well and you need to get a more reasonable vent on there like a Gorton #4 or #5.

The vent is on the right side in your picture, shaped like a cylinder. That's a Heat timer varivalve and they cause an awful lot of problems,like banging and spitting.

Fred

Is the white one at or near the end of your steam main? What kind of venting do you have on the Mains? It is very possible that you don't have enough venting on the main to push the air out fast enough during a heating cycle to allow that convector to get steam. It is also possible that other radiators are hogging the steam as a result of those Varivalve vents. Make sure you get enough venting on the mains and then adjust the venting on the radiators to balance them. The one making all the noise probably needs to be pitched a bit more to allow the condensate to drain out.

jasonw86

Fred said:

Is the white one at or near the end of your steam main? What kind of venting do you have on the Mains? It is very possible that you don't have enough venting on the main to push the air out fast enough during a heating cycle to allow that convector to get steam. It is also possible that other radiators are hogging the steam as a result of those Varivalve vents. Make sure you get enough venting on the mains and then adjust the venting on the radiators to balance them. The one making all the noise probably needs to be pitched a bit more to allow the condensate to drain out.

All great questions, I can't answer lol beyond my basic homeowner knowledge on this. I can say though it worked fine the past few years and it was only this year I noticed it lagging behind.

jasonw86

ChrisJ said:

I've never worked with a convector, which is what you have, but my amateur guess would be your problems are caused by either not enough pitch on the radiator or those super fast vents you have on them, or both.

I highly doubt there's anything actually wrong with the convectors themselves.

They need to be pitched back towards the pipe (the vent needs to be higher) so they drain well and you need to get a more reasonable vent on there like a Gorton #4 or #5.

The vent is on the right side in your picture, shaped like a cylinder. That's a Heat timer varivalve and they cause an awful lot of problems,like banging and spitting.

Interesting - I'll get a level on it and see whats up. Do I basically just prop the right side up a bit so it's a little higher? I'll also grab those valves, googling for them now

STEAM DOCTOR

Don't shoot the messenger. There is nothing wrong with the radiators. There may be venting issues, water quality issues, pitch issues. The radiator is just a fancy, empty piece of metal. Besides leaking, not much can go wrong. Could get clogged or sag but almost unheard of.

ChrisJ

jasonw86 said:

ChrisJ said:

I've never worked with a convector, which is what you have, but my amateur guess would be your problems are caused by either not enough pitch on the radiator or those super fast vents you have on them, or both.

I highly doubt there's anything actually wrong with the convectors themselves.

They need to be pitched back towards the pipe (the vent needs to be higher) so they drain well and you need to get a more reasonable vent on there like a Gorton #4 or #5.

The vent is on the right side in your picture, shaped like a cylinder. That's a Heat timer varivalve and they cause an awful lot of problems,like banging and spitting.

Interesting - I'll get a level on it and see whats up. Do I basically just prop the right side up a bit so it's a little higher? I'll also grab those valves, googling for them now

I believe so, I've never worked with a convector but I don't believe they're screwed in. If it was mine, I'd lift up on the vent side some and see if it moves, don't force it. If it feels anchored some how, look for screws.

I'm not sure if you need 1/8" or 1/4" but here's an 1/8" If you try to check your current vent, keep in mind 1/8" is the inside dimension of the threaded connector, not the outside.

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Gorton-G5S8-Gorton-No-5-1-8-Straight-Vapor-Equalizing-Valve-3530000-p


I'd also check main venting as Fred recommended regardless.
If your main venting isn't enough, it's costing you money without a doubt.

Fred

@jasonw86 said: "I can say though it worked fine the past few years and it was only this year I noticed it lagging behind. "

It is very possible an old vent on that main may have failed closed this heating season, making it more difficult to get air out of the main so that steam can get to that convector. Double check to see if that convector is one of the last ones fed off of that main.

jasonw86

Fred said:

@jasonw86 said: "I can say though it worked fine the past few years and it was only this year I noticed it lagging behind. "

It is very possible an old vent on that main may have failed closed this heating season, making it more difficult to get air out of the main so that steam can get to that convector. Double check to see if that convector is one of the last ones fed off of that main.

will do, thank you!

Fred

It is also possible that the vent on that white convector has failed closed and not letting the air out of that convector so steam can get in. I know you said you adjusted it but if it is stuck closed, adjusting it won't fix it. If you can take that vent off and see if you can blow through it, holding it upright, that will tell if it's stuck closed. Do that with the boiler shut off.