hissing radiator

HoyteKing

I have been told by more than one steam guy that one way to figure out a system is by listening. I have a listening question.



There are two types of hissing on our largest radiator, and I was wondering if this is an indication of a problem with venting.



The radiator is a 1919 Kewanee roccoco 4 tube 24 row that heats 72 square feet. It has a Gorton C vent.



The system consists of a Weil-McLain 588 with almost no main venting, no header return and other minor issues. The heat in the building is unbalanced.



I am thinking the radiator is pulling a lot of the venting duty. That would mean it is venting too fast and not heating like it should, I think.



Videos on the two types of sounds coming from the radiator vent:

1) steady hiss (there is a pinging in the wall that I attempted to record, but it did not turn out well)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTSVb0Avu8M">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTSVb0Avu8M</a>



2) a throbbing hiss towards the end of the cycle



<a href="http://youtu.be/ZGHp6xpcD0A">http://youtu.be/ZGHp6xpcD0A</a>



A link to photos of the radiator:

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9goucrv1an9ljk0/JFCpqzF18p">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9goucrv1an9ljk0/JFCpqzF18p</a>

Big Ed_4

Main vent

Main vent is important to balance a one pipe steam system , you want to charge the mains first , then heat the radiators ... Almost no main vents ?

the panting ... First are your main pipes insulated ?

HoyteKing

pipes insulated more or less

We had our pipes insulated this past spring under a free program.



The neighbor in the adjoining wing of our building was against insulation, as he wanted to heat the basement and have a warmer floor. He removed the insulation from the section shown in the link to get it.



https://www.dropbox.com/s/o3ow1k9h4ojo9n7/515%20insulation%20removed.jpg