Steam radiator leaking sometimes, driving me crazy

Anne_5

Hey everyone. I have a mystery for you to solve if you can. My radiator in the bathroom leaks, but only sometimes. I have a one pipe system and the leak seems to be coming from the nut beneath the vent. A friend took a look at it when it was dry and couldn't figure out where the leak is. I've been monitoring it since and it did leak yesterday morning before I woke up so naturally I couldn't call on my friend to look as it stopped leaking by the time I crawled out of bed. My bathroom floor is a mess, I have smelly mold and I need this fixed so I can get the floor taken care of. There is a good amount of water when it does leak. On Saturday I spent a good 1/2 hr mopping up the floor while it leaked out until the boiler stopped. It will only leak when the boiler is on that I have observed. I'm thinking it may need a new nut, and hoping and praying to God the actual radiator is not rusted to cause the leak.

What can be my troubles? Thanks for responding.

KC_Jones

Pictures of the rad and the suspected leak area would be helpful. I am guessing the nut you are referring to is the plug at the bottom end of the rad. It could be leaking...anything is possible.

Jamie Hall

Pictures would be helpful! While we are waiting for that, though, make sure of two things which will make stopping the leak, if it is where KC suggested, much easier: first, the valve at the other end of the radiator must be fully open. If you need to control the heat from the radiator, that can best be done with the vent itself -- not the valve. Second, make sure that the radiator slopes towards the inlet end. Doesn't have to be a whole lot, but it does have to slope that way. Use a good level -- don't try to judge it by eye. That way, the condensate from the steam will have a way to drain out of the radiator and back to the boiler where it belongs, rather than onto your floor.

Mark N

Now you know why your boiler is rotted out. How long has this been leaking? That and other leaks are what cause excessive water to be added to the boiler. Too much feed water kills steam boilers. Make sure you find and fix all the leaks. If they are not fixed they will cause the next boiler to rot out also.

Jamie Hall

She didn't say anything about the boiler having problems. Indeed, it almost sounds somehow as though this is an apartment, perhaps.

vaporvac

@jamie, I think this is her other post: http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/153946/need-new-boiler-in-detroit-area-want-to-try-a-stopleak-first#latest

Jamie Hall

Ah. I missed the connection. Getting old. Sorry!

vaporvac

No need to apologize. I'm the one with the problem. I've been asked if I expect to find the meaning of life on this site and I sometimes think I will.

Anne_5

KC it is from the plug. Weird it only happens sometimes though, but I guess that's a good thing.

Anne_5

Jamie last year I broke the shut off so it's only 1/2 on I think. It was that old plastic looking but not stuff and it crumbled when I panicked and shut it off to prevent the leak. sigh. I need too many things done to this system. It is in my house, and I am also having a leak around all the brass on the low water cut off and the sight glass.

KC_Jones

Still need to see pictures, without them it's just wild guesses.