Radiator vents making a lot of noise

kennyb

Okay to update the post cause I'm a idiot I have a 1 pipe Weil McLain boiler pressure is set to 1.5 cutout .5 cut in. I have 2 mains 1 vented with 2 gorton #1's the other has no vents just the radiator vents. The main with no vents is hissing which goes to 2 radiators only. On the radiators that hiss I have a vari vent on one and a gorton #6 on the other

KC_Jones

Some of the basic questions. What is the pressure set at? Loud radiator valves can be inadequate main venting. How long and what size are the mains? 2 Gorton #1 vents isn't much so either you have very small mains or not enough venting. The only way the steam can "blow right through the valves" is if the pressure is WAY too high. Even if the pressuretrol is set correctly are you sure the pigtail is clear? Do you have a good low pressure gauge on the system to see what pressure you are actually running at? On the surface it definitely sounds like a pressure issue especially your comment about a Gorton #6 hissing. The Gorton's are known to be quiet.

kennyb

Updated the post

KC_Jones

The hissing is from not having main vents on that main, almost certainly. The capacity of a Gorton #1 is over twice that of the Gorton #6 you have on the Radiator. And a Gorton #2 main vent is roughly 7 times that of the #6. Unless you have a tiny system you will probably need at least 1 #2 vent on the main. The general rule of thumb is 1 Gorton #2 for every 20' of 2" pipe. 3 #1 vents would also be equivalent if you don't have the height for #2 vents. That radiator vent is tiny in comparison to main vents and it is trying to do the work of the main vents, which as you can hear doesn't work very well. With proper main venting a Gorton #6 will be silent. Also you won't be able to truly balance the system until you get your main venting sorted out. measure up your mains for length and diameter and we can probably recommend how much main venting you need.

kennyb

Okay I'll measure tonight or tomorrow when I get home from work.

kennyb

Now my other question would be if i have no main venting with that other main how can I go about adding a main vent to that line.?

KC_Jones

Post some pictures of your piping and we may be able to suggest a way to add vents. Every situation is different.

Paul_11

KC, you may want to check the charts on page 130 and 131 of greening steam
a Gorton #2 can vent 95 feet of 2" pipe in one minute at 3 ounces of pressure.

I follow these charts carefully and have had great results.
99% of my work in in multiple dwellings of 10 to 200 units and all my one pipe systems run between 1 and 2 psi.
All my 2 pipe run between 4 ounces and 1 psi.

My Vacuum systems run on even less pressure

PAUL
A Real Good Plumber, Inc

KC_Jones

I use the venting capacities from Gerry Gill's book and at 3 ounces you are correct. Many of us on here, me included run much lower than that and requires much more venting. The information I regurgitated does not belong to me the 1 #2 per 20' I believe originated from JStar.

kennyb

As a update I got my hands on some dole a1 valves and the problem no longer exists and the rads heat up fast and make minimal noise