should I shut off radiators in my attic

drgall

should I shut off radiators in my attic

KC_Jones

Going to need a lot more information than that. What type of system (steam or hot water)? Why do you want to shut them off? What do you think shutting them off will accomplish?

drgall

old steam system 2 pipe my mom wants to shut off to save energy

Ironman

I wouldn’t do it. You could bust a radiator. The worst thing you can do to a hydronic system is to close off hot water or steam to an area where freezing could occur.

Jamie Hall

Don't do it. At least not until it gets warmer... what will happen (best case) is the just enough steam will get by the inlet valve and it will condense and get to the trap and freeze the trap. New trap. Worst case would be enough gets in there to pool in the bottom of the radiator -- it will -- and freeze. New radiator.

ethicalpaul

If it were me, and an unused space with no plumbing to worry about freezing, I would. I would wait until well after a heating cycle has ended (to let the condensate return), and then turn off the valve that's hopefully in the basement that leads up there.

The valve has to be operational of course

Jamie Hall

ethicalpaul said:

If it were me, and an unused space with no plumbing to worry about freezing, I would. I would wait until well after a heating cycle has ended (to let the condensate return), and then turn off the valve that's hopefully in the basement that leads up there.

The valve has to be operational of course

Optimist.

ethicalpaul

LOL well surely there are SOME valves in this great nation that actually work!

KC_Jones

There are many opinions about this. Not sending heat to part of the house, to me doesn't save anything. Are all the interior walls and floors insulated? If not then all you have done is move the "cold" to another room (with no insulation and the load is presented to that room. So the reminder of the heating system just runs a little longer to satisfy.

Voyager

drgall said:

should I shut off radiators in my attic

Probably not in this weather, unless you live south of Tennessee.

BobC

Put a very small air vent on them (assuming it's single pipe steam) and then throw a blanket over each radiator. the small vent will slow the steam getting into the radiator and the blanket will all but stop convection. make sure the radiator input valve is open all the way.

Bob

ethicalpaul

I like that solution, @BobC, but wouldn't an even slower vent be achieved by turning the vent upside-down?

BobC

Turning the vent upside down would let a lot less steam into thae radiator but I'd be concerned it might not let enough in to make sure condensate didn't freeze on a really cold night.

Bob

ethicalpaul

OK, but with a lot less steam, there would be a lot less condensate

JUGHNE

OP said it is a 2 pipe system.
If you want to leave these off for the long term future, I would disconnect the valve and trap. Remove both from the piping...could be difficult..... and then cap both pipes, assuming they drop straight down.
Tip the rad to drain any remaining water out.
Leave all parts for future use.

Then insulating the attic floor would save more.

ethicalpaul

Good eye, @JUGHNE