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should I shut off radiators in my attic

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drgall
drgall Member Posts: 2
in Strictly Steam
should I shut off radiators in my attic

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  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    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?
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • drgall
    drgall Member Posts: 2
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    old steam system 2 pipe my mom wants to shut off to save energy
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    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.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    1Matthias
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,324
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    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.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    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
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,324
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    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.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    GrallertCanuckerDave in QCA
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    LOL well surely there are SOME valves in this great nation that actually work!
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    Grallert
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    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.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Voyager
    Voyager Member Posts: 394
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    drgall said:

    should I shut off radiators in my attic

    Probably not in this weather, unless you live south of Tennessee.
    1MatthiasCanucker
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    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
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    I like that solution, @BobC, but wouldn't an even slower vent be achieved by turning the vent upside-down?
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,478
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    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
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    OK, but with a lot less steam, there would be a lot less condensate :)
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    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.
    ethicalpaulBobC
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    Good eye, @JUGHNE
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

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