Closed hot water radiator heat system in 1890 house

Rob F

My bedroom gets too hot relative to the rest of the house cuz its on the top floor and also cuz we renovated the room and put in good insulation vs the rest of the house. I turned 1 of the 2 radiators in the room to the Closed position.

I'd like to know if there's a risk to the rest of my system or if I should do anything else?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

Steamhead (in transit)

That should work fine

but after you finish insulating the rest of the house, you'll probably want to turn it on again.

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Rob F

THanks for your thoughts...but I don't plan on doing anymore insulation...I only insulated areas where I opened walls and I'm tired and done...so can I keep the radiator turned off or is it bad for the system? THanks in advance...Rob

Steamhead (in transit)

You can turn it off

or you can adjust both rads to half open. The latter would be my choice, as it would distribute heat more evenly thru the room.

Not sure how much fuel you'll save from that insulation, but it might pleasantly surprise you. In that case you'll want to do more. Ask me how I know that.....

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Perry_3

Bad for the system... Perhaps..

Rob:

Did you insulate behind the supply and return piping well.

If you turn off a radiator - and the supply and return piping is in unisulated walls that get really cold... They could freeze. Thus, I would ensure that there was water flow through all radiators.

If the lines are well insulated then I would not worry so much - and it probably is not much of an issue such that you can turn off a radiator.

Perry (a homeowner with hot water heat)

Vermonter_2

Good Call

Have you considered TRV's?

[Deleted User]

Are the valves the old style 1/4 turn?

If yes, they have a 1/16" orifice drilled in them so they can not be turned 100% off. If you have the rising stem type, they CAN be closed off 100 % and you may exposed standing water to the possibility of freezing.

ME

Vincent_4

air bllock

I keep getting air block in the top floor radiator of a four story house that has a hot water return system. The radiator in the front of the house is the one in question. It goes wall to wall and is where the thermostate is located. So when it blocks up that radiator does not get hot and the heat keeps comming on. I usually just bleed it and its good for a month or so. Well today i tried to bleed it and no air would come out. The rest of the house radiators heat up just fine. Any suggestions?