Looking for a steam heat expert in Chicago

Julia_2

I am experiencing one very loud radiator in my 3rd (top) floor Chicago condo. I know it is pitched correctly, and have had the vent/valve replaced on it. Even when it is closed and cold, it makes crazy loud banging/clanging noises when the boiler starts sending heat throughout the building. It is unbearable. I have heard that I will probably have to have someone replace a sagging pipe under the radiator or insulate a pipe that should be insulated. Either way, I think I will have to have some flooring torn up to access it (sad). Any suggestions in Chicago? I am concerned about having someone open up the floor and then not being able to diagnose/fix the problem. Also, any idea how much something like this should cost? Thanks!!

MIke_Jonas

I sent you an e mail.

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The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

I am now begining to serve Chicago......

if the radiator is really completely off (many old valves still leak by, which in itself can cause banging) and you still hear banging it is unlikely your radiator is the problem. A sagging pipe, yes, uninsulated pipe, yes, but it is very likely there is a problem down in the boiler room.... such as dirty boiler water, incorrect pressure settings, an oversized boiler, and/or incorrect piping near the boiler. These problems are more than just common, they tend to be the norm. Banging noise carries through steam piping very easily, so the source of the noise might not be near your radiator. It could easily be another radiator near by.

I am currently working with a condo association in Chicago to help them cut thier fuel bills and even out the temperatures from unit to unit. We have already made some huge improvements, such as getting the steam to all parts of the building at nearly the same time, so steam reaches all the radiators about the same time (within a minute or two). Next we will need to undue years and years worth of accummulated mistakes that were made at the radiators to attempt to compensate for the problems down in the boiler room and on the steam mains.

I am working as a steam specialist consultant and contractor for the association and am paid upon completion. I expect to soon set up performance contracts, where a condo association such as yours can have improvements made at no upfront cost, and I am paid from savings in fuel bills over the coming years. Give me a call if you are interested, or you think your association may be interested.

I have completed previous work of this nature and was able to take a system that was providing heat so unevenly that temperatures varied by about 7 degrees on a typical winter day and then balanced the system and now the spaces heat within 1/2 degree. Most steam systems can heat very evenly when properly balanced, getting rid of the problems of condo units that roast and others that are freezing.

Dave Bunnell

Boiler Professionals, Inc.

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Julia_2

Thanks so much for your information!

I am going to try a few things to remedy the situation and if they do not work, I will give you a call.

I just got a new valve placed on my radiator - when my old leaky one was turned off, I still heard the noise, loud and clear. I will try that with the new one. If it still makes noise, I am going to try to lift the radiator 1/4-1/2" (maintaining the shim), which will hopefully cause any crud lodged in there to wash down. Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much
Julia

nicholas bonham-carter

condo hammer

see if you can have a look at the 2nd floor area under the problem radiator, and locate the pipe which serves it. my guess it is a straight run down to the basement. most steam systems are part of the common maintainance [like the roof] of the condo regime, so it might be time to look at the whole system. has this only recently started to behave like this, or has it been on-going. are any other units experiencing noise? have you checked the pitch with a level? your pressure may have risen because of a clogged pig-tail. is regular maintainance performed on the system?

i think you and your co-owners would benefit from having a copy of "the lost art of steam heating" available here. it discusses in greater detail the water-hammer causes. the noises are usually accompanied by fuel waste, so now would be the time to find the cause.--nbc