Steam Radiator Problems...

Rangers28

New to this site and to home improvements, so please go easy on me. I was referred to this site from oldhouseweb.com.

Three years ago I purchased a Colonial, which is about 70-something years old. There is an old steam radiator system which is giving me some problems:

1. Radiators on the third floor get really HOT!

2. One radiator in bedroom is making a bad gurgling/water shwooshing
sound and is leaking some water out of the air vent valve-thing and
from the inlet pipe shutoff valve.

I replaced the vent on the bedroom radiator, and put some graphite packing stuff in the shutoff valve where it goes. Also, I tried closing the valve almost completely, in hopes of lowering the temperature of the radiator. It seemed to work last night, but this morning, the problem is still there.

Any thoughts??

Al Arnold

Steam Radiator Problems

I essentially have the same problem described by Rangers28. In order to have a comfortable temperature for sleeping on the 2nd floor of our 70 yr old colonial, we need to turn the 1st floor thermostat (single zone) to about 62 degrees.

How can we reduce the amount of heat to the 2nd floor without a cold 1st floor?

Daniel_3

The radiator angle valve should never be used to control the flow of steam unless you want the radiator to be completely "turned off". Your steam vent is used to control the steam flow. The water swooshing sound is water in your rad that is being moved around by the steam. Most likely the angle of the radiator is to blame for that. Also check the angle of the angle valve itself and if visable (unlikely)the horizontal riser. Make sure your radiator has slight grade back towards the angle valve usually 2 inches every ten feet for steam one pipe systems so the condensate can return to the boiler. Do you get any water hammer? (banging)

Daniel_3

In many cases the vents are the cause of heating issues and the easiest to change and maintain. You can get all adjustable vents for the rads and balance your system's heating. Your vents on the first floor could be faulty, clogged, or broken. If the vents on the first floor are sealed shut or clogged they would cause the steam to seek that which is the least resistant route, ie. the second floor rads. High pressure always goes to low pressure.

Rangers28

No, no banging, just that gurgling/swooshing sound.... I'll try raising the front end a bit....

Daniel_3

That might do it.

powerhead

An old radiator valve (especially one that may be 70 yrs old!) will have a dried-out or leaky disc on the inside. In this case,if the valve is closed or if it is only opened just a crack, steam will still flow into the radiator. Since the valve is not opened fully, the condensing steam will turn to water and start to flood the radiator, it will not flow back out through that valve and back to the boiler.

Water will spit out the vent and leak out of the valve just as you described. Daniel is correct, these valves are not meant to be used to control the heat. Open the valve wide (do this when the boiler is off!!) to drain the radiator and leave it open. Try to regulate the heat by the vents instead.

powerhead

Flooded Radiator

An old radiator valve (especially one that may be 70 yrs old!) will have a dried-out or leaky disc on the inside. In this case, if the valve is closed or if it is only opened just a crack, steam will still flow into the radiator. Since the valve is not opened fully, the condensing steam will turn to water and start to flood the radiator. It will not flow back out through that valve, even if it's cracked open, and back to the boiler.

Water will spit out the vent and leak out of the valve just as you described. Daniel is correct, these valves are not meant to be used to control the heat. Open the valve wide (do this when the boiler is off !!) to drain the radiator and leave it open. Try to regulate the heat by the vents instead.