single pipe steam radiator question

nicholas bonham-carter

no. steam valves rarely seal properly.the end result of closing the valve will be a rad full of water and a boiler low on water.
talk to your landlord about installing a thermostatic vent on your over-hot rad, so you can regulate the heat that way.is your apt. the only over hot one?if not then he may have some boiler control issues left to unkink.--nbc

Judy_3

single pipe steam radiator operation

I have just moved into an apartment with single pipe steam radiators. This is not a system of heat I am familiar with. Since I do not have access to the thermostat, is there a way to regulate the heat in my apartment? I have always just closed the supply valve when I have been too hot in past apartments that have had hot water radiators. Once my radiators are hot can I turn the supply valve off (and then open it again if it gets cold?) or do I just throw a towel over the radiators if the room is too hot? The landlord has just spent the last month working out the kinks in the system and I don't want to screw it up. Thanks in advance. I've learned alot at this site.

David Nadle

Been there

I've lived in apartments where the radiators got so hot you'd open the windows on February nights. What a waste. If your rooms are just a little too warm, you might try replacing your air vents with adjustable ones and trying slower settings.

There is a more advanced solution that might give you better control. It's easy to add a TRV to a single pipe radiator. There's an adapter that replaces the air vent screwed into the side. A new air vent with a straight nipple screws into the adapter and a thermostatic actuator clamps on to the end. The actuator has a dial on it to set the desired room temperature.

Check out:

http://www.maconcontrols.com/opsk1204.html

or

http://na.heating.danfoss.com/Content/268e8ab9-69b6-4e83-9fa5-dc8d56afcfa2_MNU17392440.html

Make sure you get one with a vacuum breaker

Judy_3

I think everyone's apartment is on the hot side (there are 3 units above 2 retail spaces). Right now I am controling the temp by opening the windows (it's going down into the 20's at night) and the very popular "throw a towl over it" method. This just seems wasteful, even if I don't have to pay for the heat. I have 4 rads. The ones in the kitchen and bathroom get super hot even with the supply valve all the way closed. My living room rad had a faulty air vent that caused a geyser to erupt in my living room (I chased the plumber down last night to get it replaced) That being said I am nervous about leaving the supply valve open unattened on it. If I leave it all the way closed it's too cold. I am afraid if I leave it open it will start spouting water again while I am not around to do anything about it. Sorry for the rambling post. We have been having problems with heat for the past month (starting with foul smells, no heat at all, pipes banging so bad the walls shake, no heat again, leaking valves, and the every popular living room geyser) and I'm just trying to figure out how this is supposd to work. Thanks for the advice.

Brad White_203

Judy-

You are doing the right thing and you are hardly rambling! (You-Just-Wait)...


I second the TRV route, but like any energy saving venture, they cost a bit. BUT, this is an opportunity to get the building Owners and Managers involved. They will benefit from the energy savings, you will benefit from comfort.

There is a tendency for owner/managers to turn a blind eye to some of these issues, especially in multi-tenant buildings. But if all can get to the table, (bring them to this site to be briefed), there is a lot of energy savings to be had.

Not that you will see this as a net in your wallet, but it will keep some rent increase pressures (and steam pressures) much lower..