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Adjustable Vents?

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Paul48
Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
in Strictly Steam
Are any of the adjustable radiator vents any good? Not thermostatic, just adjustable vent?

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  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    Adjustable radiator vents

    I've used three types of adjustable vents.



    The USAV 884 sold at big box stores is junk - don't bother.



    The Hoffman 1A works well but can be a bit fussy to adjust at the low end.



    The Ventrite #1 works well and is better than the Hoffman IMHO.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
    edited September 2012
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    Adjustable Vents

    I agree with Bob. Of the adjustable vents, I think the Vent-Rite #1 is the best vent. I have them on about 50 percent of my radiators (I have TRVs on the others)  One of the Vent-rite's features, that the other ones don't have, is that it can be completely shutoff. The downside is that they are double the price of a Hoffman 1A and seem to be only  readily available in the North East (New England).  (If any one reading this has a source where they get good pricing on Vent-Rites please let us know.)

    - Rod
  • Bio
    Bio Member Posts: 278
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    Vent-rite 1

    This is where I got mine http://www.partsguy.com/cgi-bin/PartsGuy/V-R1.html, and least expensive I could find compare to other sites
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    edited September 2012
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    Some more pictures

    Here are some pictures of the other vents Bob mentioned and one that he didn't.



    1. The Hoffman 1A (aka "vari-vent").

    2. The USAV/Durst 884.

    3. The Heat-Timer Varivalve.



    I agree with Bob's assessment of the three valves he mentioned. The appearance of the Hoffman may vary, but I think this is the current model. You may see them carrying different brand names, but if the fine print says it's a Hoffman, you're good to go.



    The Varivalve is the one he didn't mention. People either love this vent or they hate it. It has a very simple design--perhaps too simple--and when you see it you'll get the impression that there's not much to it. And you'll be right. It has the widest range of any variable vent, but it lacks a float. (All of the other vents mentioned here do have floats and close against water.) It really doesn't like wet conditions, so if you have wet steam or radiators were condensate accumulates, you won't be happy with it.



    Please note that the Hoffman 1A is also known as the "vari-vent," which sounds similar to Varivalve. That's why it's important to know what they look like and recognize the distinction.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • Bob Harper
    Bob Harper Member Posts: 1,036
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    Vent-Rite #1 steam vents

    I have no connection to this site nor have I ever used them but they appear to be about half the price of the link Bob provided: http://www.combustiondepot.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=17422
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,856
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    Wrong vent

    that's actually the #11, which is a non-adjustable one.



    If you go here, you can see they used the same picture for all the Vent-Rites they sell. So much for accuracy- I wonder what other inaccuracies we might find on that site?



    http://www.combustiondepot.com/store/cart.php?m=search_results&search=vent-rite&x=12&y=3
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
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    Good catch.

    So they don't even carry the adjustable one, yet they use that picture for every one they carry.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
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    Venting Capacity

    The venting capacity of adjustable vents tends to be limited to the range of the Gorton #4, #5 & #6 vents. If you want something in the C–D range in an adjustable vent, you'd have to go with the varivalve, but you're probably better off using a Gorton C or D.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • Mespeakers
    Mespeakers Member Posts: 1
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    Verivalve quick vent

    My radiators all use the verivalves. I won't ague that these don't work well when they are brand new (I wouldn't know from experience). I will say, however, that mine do not work well, or at all. They do not appear to be more than a few years old. The valves in the kitchen and bathroom wont vent at all unless I turn them sideways, and the other 4 valves never seem to shut off when the steam gets to them. I'm constantly topping off the boiler. I went to my local plumbing store and they had the Vent-rite adjustable valves for mid $30s. Its looking like that's my best bet (much more $ than I was anticipating). I was considering the adjustable Durst 884 until I read BobCs post. Any other input from those who've tried?
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    Maid O Mists

    You could try the Maid O Mist (Jacobus) vent that comes with 5 orifices that you can screw onto it. Amazon sells them for short money.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
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