A Question About Air Vents

FJL

And the opposite is true, correct? If the steam causes the float to close b/c of temperature while the pressure is low, the float will drop-away at some point, as the steam condenses and the radiator cools, and the process repeats itself so long as the pressure remains low. In this scenario, how much time can pass before the float drops because of low temp?

FJL

About Those Air Vents Everyone is Posting About

I've read the section in Dan's book, The Lost Art, and have one question about what makes an air vent close up when it works properly.

As I understand it, the float can close up one of two ways: because of high pressure inside the rad or because of temperature when the steam makes the alcohol/water mixture vaporize.

If that is true, can the float close the valve sometimes before the entire radiator gets hot? Or if that is happening, is that only because the t-stat has stopped calling for heat because the room temp has been satisfied?

Thanks.

JohnNY

An air vent can close under pressure in a cold radiator.

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JohnNY

Depends on lots of stuff but generally a matter of minutes.

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FJL

A Related Question

Assuming all rads have same vents, can one or more radiators close b/c of pressure before other radiators in the system close b/c of pressure? I live in an apt blding. Was wondering if it is possible for my rad to close b/c of pressure but for vents on rads on floors above me to be open b/c pressure has not reached them yet to close the vent. I hope that is a clear question.

JohnNY

That is very possible and likely to happen, but it is a condition corrected by proper main venting.

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FJL

Thanks.