Is there any hope..rad wont heat all the way

Ken_40

1) It's rarely the radiator pitch that causes a few rads to be "slow."

2) It is frequently the main vent size and location that is a culprit.

3) If there's poor or no insulation of the main(s) that's ALWAYS problematic!

4) Cheap brands of air vents come as one size fits all. Unfortunately, all rads most distant from the boiler are prone to balance issues when that kind of vent is used.

5) Few realize you can force more steam to cold rads by reducing vent orifice size(s) on warmer rads. Also, always have the smallest orifice on the rad affecting the 'stat most. This assures all get warm before the boiler shuts down.

6) Many balance issues are the result of aassuming more presure will reduce the problem. In fact, the exact opposite is true.

Whattaya think now?

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Noah_2

I've almost given up hope. Single pipe gas fired steam system. I have 2 radiators that won't heat all the way across even after after having 4 different people work on them. The pitch is good.

The first guy added some cleaner to water in the system. The second guy recommended changing all the vent valves on all the radiators and wanted to charge me $100 for each. So I changed them out myself. The third guy cleaned out the valve at each radiator. The fourth guy took off the radiators and actually got some water out of it. It did heat all the way across once but now they are back to only heating partially.

Looking for some advice or a pro can fix this problem in Northen Bergen County NJ.

JohnNY

Noam77

It may not be designed to heat up all the way except for on the presumed coldest day of the year.
It may also be a function of undersized piping or an oversized replacement radiator.

The bigger issue is: How does the room feel with the radiator heating as much as it is?


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Bob Flanagan_3

Check the Main Vent

Check out the main vent on the system piping. That could be the cause.

BF

Noah_2

thanks for responses. I have been reading this forum for a few years now (mainly during the winter months) and have found it very valuable.

Ken, I installed varivalves on all the rads last year and have minimized the orifices accordingly. Only the two rads not heating well are fully open. It isn't the rad is slow rather only the first few fins get really hot. The remainding fins will just stay cold no matter how long the system is running. A pro also lowered the pressure last year.

One thing that has not been checked is the main vent valve. I'll try to post some pics of the main vent valve.

Daniel_3

I agree completely with Ken's assessment. I will say that when it comes to all the information you gave I would drill and tap one more vent on those hard to heat rads and re-balance them all afterwards. Everything that was done by your four visitors probably was just walking in the dark. Your mains must be vented properly and then your rads can be balanced. It's easy to drill and tap another 1/8" tapping. Read in the Library a text by the name of "It's all in the venting" and you wil find that this is one of the number 1 causes for a radiators efficiency in heating all the way across. Good luck.

kpc_4

what happens...

if you leave the vent off as you are cycling it through?..some rads may need two vents....I like Ken's thoughts though...are you warm?

Chas_2

located in north jersey

noam ,i,m located in north jersey and work on steam ,hydronic and a/c .you can e mail me at RDEUZA@aol.com and i'll shoot you my telephone # so we may speak .peace and good luck clammy

Tom Hopkins

tony_38

heat line solaris 30

Brand new heating installed in the summer. Now we need it can't get it to heat as required. Using using DRAYTON Digistat RFI Wireless System to activate. Have to keep reverting to overide button 3 - 6 times a night. Some rads heat up, some don't. Then it shuts down again. Cowboy who fitted it won't sort it. Can anyone help please. kids are freezing!!! Thanks.

John_173

A suggestion

Tony - repost this, making this a new, separate thread. You'll get more attention from the Wallies.

Peace