Steam trap repair issues

KarenK

We've had banging in our top-floor living room radiator pipes for about a year, becoming extremely loud in December, when everyone in our line was affected and the manager finally got a plumber who replaced a defective 2" steam trap with y-staringer and control valve (if I read his handwriting correctly).  The very loud banging stopped, but we continue to have banging both before the steam comes up and sometimes for a half-hour after the steam enters (every minute or so).  The plumber said that we also needed a new condensent float switch and 1-1/4 steam trap (this may relate to a pump at the ground level - ?), but the manager won't approve it since no one else is complaining.

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There is thumping in the bathroom line as well, and the woman downstairs also has the same but not in our bigger problem line.



The plumber advised that it would be a waste of time to address anything in our radiator before the pump repairs were completed.  Does this sound appropriate?  Is it an expensive repair?  Can anyone offer any thoughts for the manager to do the right thing?



Thanks,

Karen K.</span>

nicholas bonham-carter

Apartment steam problems

There is something wrong with the whole system here, and it needs to be addressed.

When your building was first installed with it's heating, it would have been quiet, economical, and even amongst the various apartments. Now sadly that is not the case, as the system has fallen into disrepair.

If this is a coop, or a condominium, then all of the parts of the system should be part of the common interest of the building, such as the roof, or the supporting walls.

Your super should be as interested in your heating problems, as any other important part of the building. It seems as though there are some "deferred maintenance issues" here.

The individual owners here are paying their share of an inefficient system, probably by 30%.

I wish you well--NBC