Steam Vents

Boston_2

I am replacing all radiator vents.... any suggestions? I have heard the Heat-Maker Verivalve adjustable valves work great and look good.

Al Hendrickson_5

I'm not a pro, but I've tried a bunch of different brands. Here's my experience:

Hoffman 40 - Works OK, slow venting.

Watts SVA - Works well, adjustable, loud hiss when venting, loud pop when opening and closing. Imported. Inexpensive.

Heat Timer Varivalve - Very fast but adjustable, reasonably quiet. They are not very tall, so condensate can travel up, making gurgling noises and spitting if the valve is set to vent quickly. Expensive. I have one upstairs bedroom that was cold, and the radiator is on the end of a very long branch line at the end of the main. This vent helped it heat up sooner and better.

Gorton - Works well, fast or slow depending on model. Closes and opens gradually, so is not as disturbing as some others. Slower units are fairly quiet. However, size D hisses loudly and flutters before closing. Seems inconstent. Fairly expensive. Good reputation.

Jacobus Maid-O-Mist - My favorite. Similar to Gorton, but seems quieter yet. Interchangeable orifices to adjust speed. Some say that plastic internal parts don't last as long as others. Mine work fine. Inexpensive.

My $.02

V8toilet

Jacobus Maid-O-Mist is my favorite too. I've used these for about three years now and they have lasted at least that long so far. They are only $10.00 at Home Depot also!

To help you choose the correct ventind size for your system get the venting capacities chart from this website. It's only about $10 and is worth every penny!