replacement vent

steampowered

Hi all! I am new here! Have owned my ~100 yr old home with steam heat for three winters now. It's been a quirky experience, but there's really only one thing bothering me at the moment, which is the vent on the very small bathroom radiator. It releases a lot of steam, causing the tile glaze to peel above it. (It doesn't help that there's normally a towel hanging in front of it. But that's where the towel rack is.) A steamy bathroom isn't the end of the world, but we'd like to redo the tile glaze and not ruin the new job too.

At one point I managed to have a plumber look at it, and he said I should get a "#1 vent" to replace what's there. I guess that means the Vent-Rite (Emerson) #1. So... should I? Should I consider the Varivalve instead, which is a bit cheaper and smaller (really either one would stick out in an awkward way in that space). I am somewhat nervous I will snap something trying to take off the existing vent and things will be worse than before... Pics of the situation below. Thank you for any advice!

Fred

If that vent doesn't close when steam hits it, it needs to be replaced. You can try a Gorton #4 on there. It may look a little less obtrusive. Vent-Rite's are very good also. Stay away from the Varivalves. They vent too fast.

KC_Jones

That's the location a bleeder for a hot water system would be. On those radiators the vent is supposed to be on the front in that boss about half way down the front.

I'm guessing that was either a replacement or a change at some point.

nicholas bonham-carter

Check your pressure as well when you make this vent change, as I suspect it is too high.—NBC

steampowered

OK, will try the Gorton #4 and will check the pressure! Thanks for your help!