single pipe radiator - air vent leaking water

John1222

Hi,



I own an 80-year old house with a steam heating system. All the radiators are single-pipe radiators. This is my first house, and only my second winter here, so I'm still unsure of how everything works.



Recently, one of my upstairs radiators has begun leaking water. I've located the source of the water - it's coming out of the air vent on the side (the piece that looks like this, <a href="http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/hvac/steam/steam-vents-traps/radiator-steam-vents">http://www.globalindustrial.com/g/hvac/steam/steam-vents-traps/radiator-steam-vents</a> )



All the online resources I've found talk about what to do if the valve leaks, but I haven't found any DIY help for the air vent. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

crash2009

Radiator vent spitting water?

John, that little vent is there to allow the air to get out of the radiator.  For some reason your radiator has a lot of water in it.  The first thing that you can try is to open the radiator valve all the way.  The valve needs to be wide open to allow the water to get out.  By the way, if that valve was not open all the way, don't expect an instant fix.  It may take an hour or two for the vent to stop spitting.

BobC

Slope

The diagram that crash included mentioned the radiator being tilted so water can flow out, put a level on the radiator and make sure it slopes slightly towards the input valve. If it doesn't add some shims under the vent side to get the required slope 9quarters work fine for small adjustments). Also make sure the radiator doesn't have a sag in the middle, it's been there a long time and it has happened before.



Also if you are using the Hoffman 1A what setting is it on? If it's set on 6, a lower setting might tame the spitting. If it does you might be producing wet steam.



Bob