Air Vents for Convectors

ben_18

What size air vent goes on a convector as opposed to a radiator.



There is a mix of convectors on the first floor, 5 of them and there are 7 radiators.

On the second floor there are 4 convectors and 8 radiators.



Let's say that I would put a Gorton #5 on a radiator on the first floor and a #6 on the radiators on the second floor.



What size to put on the convector. Would you go up a size and put a #6 on the first floor and a #c on the second?



Convectors don't radiate (like a radiator does) so I'm thinking to put a larger size air vent on them.

ben_18

Convectors

Basically my question is how to balance a one-pipe system that has convectors and radiators. The problem is the convectors lose heat much faster than the radiators.

Rod

Air Vents for Convectors

Hi -   If the convector in now heating completely across, a bigger vent won’t make a difference. All the vent does is let the air out so the steam can get in. A bigger vent might accomplish this a bit faster but this can cause problems too if the large amount of condensate (water)  produced interferes with the steam entering the radiator. I have several convector radiators and use a Hoffman 41 vent  (straight 1/8"  attachment) on them.  What you are experiencing is why mixing convectors and conventional cast iron radiators is frowned upon as the cast iron radiators have much more “coasting time” than the convectors which leaves the rooms the convectors are located in, cooler than the rooms with conventional radiators.

       If your thermostat has a adjustable cycle function, what you might want to do is adjust the cycles from 1 per hour (the normal setting for steam systems) to 2 or even 3 per hour and see if that makes things more comfortable for you

- Rod