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Hissing Air Vent

Jessika
Jessika Member Posts: 4
in Strictly Steam
Is it safe to turn this valve/vent so the knob is facing down, in order to stop it from hissing the entire time steam is coming up into the radiator?



Thanks!

Comments

  • moneypitfeeder
    moneypitfeeder Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2013
    If you turn this vent (not a valve) upside down...

    Hi! It will quit hissing but the rad will also quit getting warm, what's the pressure of your boiler set to?

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  • Jessika
    Jessika Member Posts: 4
    Renting

    I'm renting some rooms in this old 1900-ish home, so I have no idea what

    the pressure is. I hate to bother my landlord so I was hoping for an

    easy answer. (o:  Actually, your response does help, since the radiator

    in my kitchen is hardly ever warm, and I just noticed that the air vent

    is turned down on that one. Guess I can live with the hissing if it

    means it will be warmer...
  • moneypitfeeder
    moneypitfeeder Member Posts: 252
    You really need to

    Make sure that the vent top ( the cylindrical "button" on top of the round vent) is pointed directly at 12 o'clock, that may cut down a little on the hissing. Those vents can also be removed (When the system is turned OFF) and cleaned. But I suspect the pressure is too high on the boiler and your landlord/and or you depending on who pays the gas bill is paying way too much for wasted gas. Hope this helps, good luck with the hiss!

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  • Jessika
    Jessika Member Posts: 4
    Thank you!

    Ok, I'll try turning them to 12:00. I'll talk to my landlord about cleaning them out too. The pipes also knock REALLY loudly and although he said that was normal, I have a feeling it isn't. Anyway, thanks for the info!
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,495
    it should be quiet

    It sounds like the system needs some attention, steam systems don't knock unless something is wrong. I only hear a bit of hissing on rare occasions from my 90 year old system and never any knocking or water hammer.



    To operate quietly steam systems usually operate at 2PSI or less, hissing and banging can indicate high pressure, dirty boiler water, or piping problems. If you or your your landlord can post pictures of the boiler and the piping around it perhaps we can help you get the system working the way it is supposed to.



    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
  • Jessika
    Jessika Member Posts: 4
    Had a feeling...

    Yeah, I didn't think that was normal. I'll definitely bring it up to him again, and ask if he'd consider getting some help from you guys. Thank you!
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