Radiator gurgling

Glen_7

I have a 3 story home. Four of the second floor radiators (one pipe steam, new gorton vents) make a gurgling/sloshing sound as the heat comes up. I read Dan's book and pitched the radiators toward the supply side, that didn't help. The supply valves are all the way open and the radiators don't appear to be bowed. Pressuretrol set for .5psi with 1psi diff. Any ideas? Thanks.

David Efflandt_2

undersize risers?

Not a pro, just my experience.

My most distant radiator is my largest 2nd floor radiator on smallest riser. My initial thought was to vent it rapidly to get steam to it. But steam rapidly hitting cold metal, rapidly condensed (sloshing sounds as condensate fought steam from riser), plugging up a wide open Dole 1A in a week.

I replaced the Dole with a Hoffman 1A and throttled that adjustable vent down so the radiator would heat more gradually and mostly eliminate sloshing sounds (hot metal does not condense steam as fast). That has worked fine for a couple of years now without any vent problems.

The radiator may not fully heat during short cycles in mild weather, but it is bigger than necessary in a little used room. It does fully heat during longer cycles in cold weather. Maybe not the most efficient solution, but easier than upsizing the riser on piping that seems impossible to loosen (permanent pipe dope?).

Jaitch

System overfilled?

Was the system ever overfilled to the point where water was coming out of the rads? It may be water trapped in the rads from the system being overfilled.

Just a thought.

Jeff_17

Is there an easy...

way to DRAIN a steam radiator without disconnecting it? I have a wall mounted one-pipe steam rad...UNDER a pedestal sink...BEHIND a toilet (A toilet that is called a low-down). I THINK miine has water in it as it does not heat too well either. It gets damn hot right past the shut-off valve..and then takes FOREVER to develop any heat in that thing!