What is this valve

sciprox

Hi all

I currently own an apartment in a building built in the early 1900's. We currently have base board heating which is building controlled with no in unit thermostat. My unit in particular stays pretty warm and I was wondering if any knows what this valve does in my room. I have not touched it since I moved into the unit and do not know if this is bleeder valve or something to turn off the heat.

Apologies for my lack of knowledge and hoping for some insight.

http://s399968921.onlinehome.us/window/baseboard.jpg

sciprox

Attaching pictures it is the same in the link.

JUGHNE

Is this steam or hot water? 1900 suggests steam but copper? smaller size suggests hot water.
How about pictures of each end of heater with end covers removed. Back up a little to include more of the heater, pipes, valves and entry thru floor. Maybe an air vent at the other end?

sciprox

Thanks for the reply. Here is the exact other side along with first side but a bit further out. As per hot water or steam I think it is steam but honestly not 100%. I will try to ask the super tomorrow but he may not know

Paul S_3

Hot water baseboard .....those are isolation valves....heating system not original to building if built in early 1900s

sciprox

Thanks Paul!

Again apologies for my lack of knowledge. Can I turn the valve off to stop the heating or is that a big no no?

Paul S_3

Depending on type of system you have if its series baseboard, all baseboards connected with one pipe from boiler then back to boiler...then no....by the looks of 2 isolation valves with bleeder it could be a monoflo system then yes

sciprox

Thanks for the insight Paul truly appreciated

JUGHNE

The left side has an air bleed vent after the valve. If you want less heat I think you could close the valve on either side. Once you operate either of the handles you may have a drip under the handle on the stem. If so you can just snug the bonnet packing nut under the handle very carefully.

sciprox

Thanks jughne, I will check look into this. I am concerned with causing any water leakage into the apartment below me. That be very bad for me and lead to some unhappy neighbors.

sciprox

Sorry to bring up an reply to this topic. I was able to shut off the valve in the bedroom.

However in the living room I have a similar setup as above except on one wall it has the white valve and the baseboard extending the entire length at which point the pipe disappears into the floor with no valves. The other wall has the pipe coming back up through the floor with no valves and the far end of that pipe has the bleeder valve with the same blue valve.

Apologies if this sounds confusing but it is basically the same setup as the bedroom except the valves are split between each wall.

The exception on this wall is I am unable to close the white valve. It just won't budge. Any suggestions? Still a bit nervous about leaking to the downstairs apartment.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Another option is to cut some tin foil and wrap it around the heating element. This will stop air flow around the fin tube heating element and cut down the heat. You won't risk any leaks from trying to manipulate the old valves.

This is a Dan Holohan trick so he gets credit for this.

sciprox

Thanks when you say heating element you mean the fins? Apologies I am total noobie

JUGHNE

Either one of those valves would probably slow down the water flow. Most BB heaters like that have a damper on the top that is hinged to open and close. From your pictures it looks like there is one angled at the top of the unit.....the long white strip about 2" wide.....it is probably stuck but you may get it worked loose. It slows the air flow down somewhat like the tin foil would. it may be enough for comfort.

sciprox

Thanks. After some prying I was at to close the flap.

Is it still worth wrapping in tin foil?

sciprox

I have officially double wrapped in aluminum foil. Hopefully this helps.

I called a plumber who knows the building. He said when he came last for repairs he noticed that the boiler doesn't have an accurately working heater timer and is missing check valves.

He also said the system is a monoflo and my valve is frozen open.

Steamhead

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