ugh ... water gushing out of large radiator

iddelz

i replaced the pigtail, added a low pressure gauge, cleaned the piping around the sight glass and finally got the boiler operating consistently b/t 0.5 and 2psi. all good stuff. but then today, in one of the radiators furthest from the boiler - a large 6 ft long radiator - at the end of a heating cycle water was gushing out of the vent  like a waterfall. 

we've found water on the floor near the vent since the start of the heating season but i've never "caught it in the act" and i'd thought the radiator might be cracked. so now i have a new problem to diagnose. the water looked clean. the radiator which is new is well tilted but there is a lot of piping underneath the floors which might be suspect. I also think the returns on the system might be clogged. could that be a culprit in causing this issue? what else might cause this? is flushing the returns a homeowners job or best left to a professional? tx in advance ...

BobC

On to the next problem

What kind of radiator vent is on that radiator?



Check that radiator and the pipe that feeds it in the basement and make sure it's pitched to any water can find it's way back to the boiler. Use a level don't trust your eye.



Have we addressed the main steam vents on this system yet?



It always seems that as soon as you fix one thing you discover a problem behind it. Don't lose hope, we'll deal with them as they surface.



Bob



Bob

iddelz

Vents and mains

On the rad I had a Gorton d for about six months but switched to a varivalve because I wanted to vent it more slowly. With the gorton There was water leaking but since the vent hole for the gorton is inside i never saw the source of the leak and thought it was a crack in the rad. With the varivalve on, I had it nearly closed and the rad was knocking. today with it opened, it gushed water. I loweredthe cut out on the pressuretrol to 1.5 and tilted the rad a bit more hopefully that helps. I have two gorton 1's on the main, which is about 20 feet from the boiler. Maybe I'll add another one?

BobC

That vent will not stop water

The problem with Heat Timer Varivalves is they have no float so they don't shut if water enters them, Try a Hoffman 1A (adjustable)or go back to the Gorton but not that high a venting rate. high vent rates on radiators can be a real problem unless you have very dry steam. You want to vent the mains very fast and the radiators somewhat slowly.



How long are your steam mains and what size pipe are they?



Give us a list of all your radiators, there sizes,  and the vents on them. Also make sure the slope on all the radiators and the basement piping is pitched so the water can find it's way back to the boiler.



Bob

World Plumber

celing height

How high is your basement? Is the riser close to the return? Do you have 30 inches difference between the height of the riser connection and the water level? Can you get pictures of near boiler piping?