It was working a few weeks ago, now none work

WPGHSC

I live in an apartment with radiator heating. I have a thermostat on the wall and three steam radiators. A few weeks ago, they worked but I couldn't get them to turn off. Finally, I have no idea how or what I did, they turned off. Now, I'm trying to get them to work again. When I set the temperature on the thermostat, it does nothing. None of them are working now. What is going on?! It's absolutely FREEZING in my apartment! Is something wrong with my wall thermostat?



Should I loosen the valves? Help!

Unknown

No Heat

Hi-  In trying to get an idea of what type of steam system you have I need to ask some questions. How many pipes go into each of your radiators?  Is the tap (valve.) on the pipe going into the radiator open (turn it counter clock wise)?  How may apartments are there in your building?

- Rod

WPGHSC

single pipe

They are all single pipe radiators...all with the chrome vents. I live in an apartment on the second floor of an old house. So, it's just my apartment upstairs and then the house. No, the valves are all tightly seal to clockwise.

Unknown

No heat

Okay you have a single pipe steam system.  When looking down at them, open the valves on the pipe going into the radiator by turning  them counterclockwise until they are all the way open. These valves work either all the way open or all the way shut -never half way.   A couple more questions: Are the people on the first floor getting heat?  Is there any adjustment on the vents on the sides of the radiators?

WPGHSC

okay

all are open all the way now. there are adjustments on all the vents, a white dial from 1 to 8 marked on them. Yes, the others are getting heat.

Charlie from wmass

Placebo Thermostat

Open the valves as said above and I am wondering if the t stat is attached to anything.

Unknown

No Heat

LOL Charlie You're Bad!   What Charlie is saying is that some landlords put a "dummy " thermostat on the wall of apartments so that the tenant thinks they have control of the heating system!

Okay- I would set the vents on the radiators to number 5. What these vents do is allow the air in the radiator to escape as the steam pushes the air out of the radiator. When the steam reaches the vent ,the vent shuts off and doesn't allow the steam to escape.



The radiators should now be warming up if the boiler in the basement is working. More questions- Can you hear the boiler in the basement when it is working? Are there any wires going from the thermostat to a fitting on the radiators?

- Rod

WPGHSC

hah

nope, no wires going to the radiators. I have no access to the basement, so I can't hear anything.

Charlie from wmass

does it look like the first or second picture?

the pics did not loadso here are links [url=http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/167254_front200.jpg]http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/167254_front200.jpg

[url=http://www.danfoss.com/Products/Categories/Group/HE/Radiator-Thermostats/Radiator-Sensors/31992cd7-0eab-48d2-a1b5-d2fb06219e6d.html]http://www.danfoss.com/Products/Categories/Group/HE/Radiator-Thermostats/Radiator-Sensors/31992cd7-0eab-48d2-a1b5-d2fb06219e6d.html

Unknown

No Heat

Let's wait for Charlie's pictures. He's a really good steam  pro and  maybe he has an idea

WPGHSC

First

definitely the first.

Charlie from wmass

you may have to wait

the steam will not come on until the downstairs needs heat. Can you ask them to turn up the temp?

Charlie from wmass

Do as said start at 5 and get the heat going.

You can worry about balance once  you have heat. the radiator valves are all open now right? All counter clockwise?

Unknown

No Heat

Any heat coming in yet? Is the pipe leading into the radiators warm?(Be careful these can get very hot!)

Edit: Saturday morning- If you don't have heat by now you need to contact your landlord as `the above information has covered the areas that you can check yourself and if that doesn't cure the problem, someone experienced with steam and/or the steam system for your apartment needs to look at it. Good Luck and come back if you have more questions.

-Rod

Charlie from wmass

had to go to continueing ed this morning

So whats the verdict any heat yet?