Vent question.

misterheat

What is the tubing sticking out of this vent ? Why bent ? Was this an attempt to adjust. It was on a 17 section 5 column radiator .

JUGHNE

Don't see it?

Fred

Does that tubing rotate? Most angle radiator vents have a "tongue that allows any condensate in the vent to drip back into the radiator. That's an old vent, they may have used a tube at one time but it would have to be angled downward. Seems to long to fit in a radiator too. Does it push into the vent?

misterheat

Yes it does rotate. It very well may have been pointing down when I took it out. This radiator wasnt heating up any more . So i changed out the vent but was a little surprised by the tongue . It was my elderly neighbors house. I replaced it with a maid o mist that had a similar size orifice. Anything particular I should watch out for ? Thanks.

misterheat

And yes it does slightly push into the vent.

Fred

@misterheat said: Anything particular I should watch out for ? Not really (as it relates to the radiator venting). Just be sure to use good quality vent Maid-O-Mist are fine and the Vent-Rites are also very good adjustable vents. Try to vent the radiators as slowly as possible but still get the steam in sufficiently to heat the room.
http://www.hvacrsupplynow.com/VENT-RITE-1-STEAM-AIR-VALVES-ADJUSTABLE_p_1787.html

misterheat

Thank you . Another quick question. I have a small room that is always the hottest. It's a 10x8 room with an 8 foot ceiling. It has a 7 section 3 column radiator. I tried the vari vent route unsuccessfully. I've settled in with maid o mist with the changeable orifaces. On a cold day the number 4 doesn't let it heat up at all, I switch to a number 5 and it is back to heating up full blast. Should I just get a small radiator for such a small room ?

Steamhead

How tall is the radiator?

Does this radiator connect to the steam main fairly close to the boiler?

BobC

If you tried the Heatimer varivent it is very hard to adjust at the low end, The Ventrite #1 adjustable vent has a finer adjust range.

If you have access to a set of small drill bits (#60-80) you could try drilling the smallest orifice out just a little bit -go in small steps because if you go to far your toast.

Bob

misterheat

It's a 36 in tall 7 section 3 column. I thought about drilling it out. Had it in my head that it was stainless. It is a radiator on the second floor. It is a branch off of the main ,there are 3 readiators off this branch. I'll dig up some pictures from my other thread. I have a nice drill press at work so I will try to drill it out in very small increments. All the houses in my neighborhood are the same, 1927 and it seems all the houses have this same issue in the small room. I actually have a 4 ' piece of steam base board I thought about switching to.

Fred

seven sections, three column is not a huge radiator, even if it is 38" tall. You should be able to vent it's output down enough for that room. You may be better off with a more convenient adjustable vent, like the Vent-Rite #1. I suspect you may need to adjust it differently for mild days vs. cold days. Maybe a TRV would be an option for that room. Set it to a temp and it opens and closes the vent depending on room temp. A bit pricey though.

Danny Scully

I'm proud of you @misterheat! You've graduated from needed our services good luck and keep us posted.

misterheat

I will try the vent- rite #1 . That's one I don't have in my collection yet. I aways value/ need a great steam plumber like you and your brother@ Danny Scully . I actually have some stuff come up for you. Possibly some black pipe for a standby generator. I'm just so interested/ fascinated by steam that I always attempt small tweaks til I have to call you. Definitely ttys. Thanks to you too Fred you are always there for me . It is appreciated.

Fred

This site probably has the best pricing for the Vent-Rite #1:
http://www.hvacrsupplynow.com/VENT-RITE-1-STEAM-AIR-VALVES-ADJUSTABLE_p_1787.html

misterheat

Great ! thank you I will take a look.

misterheat

random steam question. Does a reduction in diameter of piping have an affect on steam velocity ?

stevieg

Get some new Vent rite #1 they are cheap and well worth replacing. Reducing the diameter of the piping will effect the system for sure. Don't forget that condensation has to run back to the boiler through that pipe, If you reduce the size, you may get severe hammering.

Abracadabra

misterheat said:

random steam question. Does a reduction in diameter of piping have an affect on steam velocity ?

Assuming all else stays the same, then yes, velocity will be affected. Velocity will increase.

misterheat

This is new vent question . I have a 25 H 16 Section 6 column radiator. It has a single large vent (D) . I'm staying away from vari vents at the moment. Question is this radiator has a second 1/8 tapping high up in right corner can I add a second vent? This is my largest rad ,

mikeg2015

It won't hurt to try it. At worst, you just plug it back up. The top vent will close first, as steam reaches the top before the middle on most cases. You might find also if the steam is rushing in, that vent will tend to spit and sputter unless you have very dry steam.

Have you first tried using smaller vents on the others? Worst case, you'll have an inventory of replacement vents for 5-10 years from now as the current ones fail.

Although people say that, but yet I have what i suspect are 60+ year old Hoffman 40's that seem to work fine.

KC_Jones

If you already have a D on there and think you need more venting I suggest your problem is elsewhere. That is a huge vent.

Many times the issue is main venting when you think you need that much on a radiator.

If the problem is getting heat to the rad (and main venting is good) you would be better off adding a vent on the supply side that closes quickly after steam arrives. Putting it on the opposite end could have the effect of then overheating the room because the rad fills so quickly.

Fred

That upper tapping on the radiator is actually for a coin vent, used to bleed a hot water system. It could be used for a second vent but it just might cause steam to rush across the top of that radiator, close that vent and then rush down to the other vent and close it before air is evacuated from the lower portion of the radiator. As has been said, make sure you have the proper amount of main venting on you system.