Shimming a radiator

celluliteradio

Hello good people of heating help. I recently bought a house built in the 1950s with a single pipe steam system. The radiators are all perfectly level and I’m thinking of pitching them a bit towards the main valve. I’ve heard using a piece of wood as a fulcrum to lift one end will work, and slip shims or washers under the feet while it’s raised. I’m just worried of cracking an old pipe or something while doing this. I’d rather not disconnect them from the supply valve if I can. Anything else worth trying that I have not considered? Or is a 2x4 the way to go?

Kahooli

you're only lifting it enough to put a shim under. low chance of cracking pipe

nicholas bonham-carter

Quarters make excellent shims, but be careful not to lift much above the height to get the quarters underneath. Also pay attention to the state identified on the quarter as some states are better than others{*.—NBC

Fred

Do you hear any gurgling or hammer in any of the radiators? If not, don't mess with them. If you do, then pitch those a little more. Sometimes we look for "things to do" when there really isn't a problem.

celluliteradio

Merry Christmas and sorry for the delayed response. Two radiators on the second floor have Hoffman 1a vents set to the lowest setting. There’s no water hammer but the vents do bubble a bit when the radiators become totally full of steam. They will also whistle like a boiling tea pot for a minute or two, also only after the radiator has totally filled with steam. The vents are new and do fill with some water, which I assumed might be the whistling issue, and that pitching might help.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I agree wit @Fred if their working ok leave them alone. If the vens are spitting or you have gurgling the pitch them a little at a time. You can always shim them and try it add more if needed