Cast Iron Radiators

Jamie Hall

like one pipe steam to me... check the vents. Also, all the valves must be fully open.

WS Coverdale

Cast Iron Radiators not heating evenly

A friend of mine just bought an older house with Cast iron radiators. I am pretty sure that they are water not steam. The problem is that on som eof the upstairs radiators, whole sections of the radiator are not heating up. So on a 5 section radiator, only the first 3 sections heat, the last 2 stay cool.

Any ideas ? Thanks

Brad White_185

Got Pics?

What you are describing sounds like steam, that partial heating feeling... If it is steam, I suspect a slow or inadequate venting issue. Is there a vent on the side and what does it look like? How many pipe connections to each radiator, one or two? A place to start.

If it is hot water, it may be an old gravity system but if you get any water in, should be water out... If the cold sections are cold top to bottom and not just on top, I would not think it is an air venting issue. A few variables but a photo of a typical radiator might benefit the discussion.


EDIT: Yup. Steam alright. One-pipe steam. Time to replace the vents and also check the overall piping and main venting. Are the mains vented? (If so, do they work?) Are the pipes insulated? Those things and good working radiator vents are a great place to start for relatively low cost.

WS Coverdale

Additional Info

As far as I can tell, there is a single inlet to each radiator and no other outlet. The conduit which connects each section of the radiator runs along the bottom only. I have some pictures which may help

joe lambert_2

You have steam heat

You have one pipe steam heat. The fact that the radiator only heated half way is normal as long as the room is at the desired temperature. The radiator would heat all the way on those really cold days when the thermostat is calling for heat for a longer period of time.

WS Coverdale

Where are the vents

Thanks to everyone for the responses, now that I know he has steam heat, and that I need to check the valves. Where are the vents? I assume they are the chrome doohickies on the opposite side as the valve. Subsequently, there are rings with numbers, how does that work? right now they just move around (no resistance).

And sorry about the school picture of my youngest, that's what I get for not checking the attachments more carefully :P

kpc_16

if the adjustment...

valve on the air vent is floating hen it is broken. Go to Gorton-valves.com/specify.htm there you willl find the info on air venting