Vent-Rite No. 1

ToddB

Does anyone have an online source for Vent-Rite No. 1 vents? They are difficult to find locally in NJ and online sources look slim. Thank you.

Bio

Vent-rite1

http://www.partsguy.com/cgi-bin/PartsGuy/V-R1.html

ToddB

Problem with vent

I wound up purchasing some of these vents. The first one that I tried left the radiator cold unless I fully opened the vent. The previous vent on this radiator was a Hoffman 1A set on 1 - this setting allowed the radiator to heat fully.



Has anyone had problems with faulty Vent-Rite No. 1's right out of the box? Seems strange.

Rod

Vent- Rite #1 compared to Hoffman 1A

Hi- I'm not sure quite what you are trying to achieve. To control over heating the minimum settings on an adjustable vent shouldn't allow the radiator to heat "all the way across." The Ventrite #1 is a much slower vent that the Hoffman 1A. It’s best use is where you have big oversized radiators which are typical on older one pipe systems. If you’ve read Dan’s books, he mentions that there was a time when there was a fresh air fetish so that the radiators installed during that time were oversized so as to provide heat with the windows partially open. I use VentRite #1 s on my huge downstairs radiators to balance out the system and to control over heating.  Without them these radiators can make you believe your on a tropical beach near the equator. The slower venting helps slow down massive condensing in these big radiators. The other benefit of the Ventrite #1 is that at the minimum setting the vent is completely shut off. Also note that the maximum setting on the Ventrite is Number 8 and on the Hoffman 1A is Number 6



The following are the CFM  at 1 oz. Pressure



Ventrite #1 Setting 1  OFF         Hoffman  #1A Setting 1   0.020

Ventrite #1 Setting 2  0.033        Hoffman  #1A Setting 2   0.026

Ventrite #1 Setting 5  0.045        Hoffman  #1A Setting 5   0.140

Ventrite #1 Setting 8  0.083         Hoffman #1A Setting 6    0.145



Just for comparison this is the rating for the following fixed vents (non adjustable)

Hofffman 40     0.042

Gorton #5          0.080

Gorton #6         0.150



The figures above are from Gerry Gill’s and Steve Pajek’s excellent venting book which is available as a downloadable “E- book” from the shop section of this website Here’s a link to it:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Steam-Heating-Books/25/146/Balancing-Steam-Systems-Using-a-Vent-Capacity-Chart-by-Gerry-Gill-and-Steve-Pajek



This is a very useful book to have and like “The Lost Art...” ,I find I refer to it constantly.

- Rod                                

ToddB

Trying to achieve...

Hi. I'm simply replacing my Hoffmans with Vent-Rites. I can't say that I am too happy with the quality of the Hoffmans and I do not like the clicking sound that they make. I'm not trying to prevent overheating - I just prefer the adjustable vents over the fixed orifice models. I'm aware that that the Hoffmans and Vent-Rites have different venting rates - I own the venting book and checked that before purchasing the Vent-Rites. My problem is that the Hoffman will allow the subject radiator to heat when set at 1. Virtually any setting on the Vent-Rite, except fully opened at 8, stopped the radiator from heating.



I was wondering if anyone has had problems with faulty Vent-Rites. It seems to be the case here.

Charlie from wmass

all vents can be bad from the box

I just had my first bad Gorton #2. closed tight right from the start. I will return it for a new one, no big deal. Since I buy them by the case I was due. Just return the vent rite and get a new one.

Irv

source of vent rite

patriot supply was able to get them for me.



Irv

ToddB

Problem with a second vent

I'm having the same problem with another vent from the same purchase. The vent is acting the same way as the first one - the radiator will not heat at all with the vent set at 3. As I previously described, a Hoffman 1A will allow this radiator to heat nicely when set on 1. Once the radiator was fully cold I opened the Vent-Rite to 8 and then the radiator did heat. I turned it down to 5 and am waiting to see what happens in the next cycle.



Any theories why the Vent-Rites are acting this way?