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Water beading out of overhead steam radiator valve

mike212
mike212 Member Posts: 50
in THE MAIN WALL
I have an overhead steam radiator (one pipe) in my garage that has a very slow drip of about 5 drops each time then boiler fills the radiators with steam. Since I have steam (not hot water) this seems like it could be the sign of something wrong with the overhead radiator - there should NOT be enough water build up to cause a drip in a steam system, right?

Should I just give the nut on the valve a slight turn to tighten it further or am I just masking a bigger issue?

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,110
    Try tightening the packing nut. That valve is horizontal, and yes indeed there could be enough condensate to get in there and drip.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mike212
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,201
    On those situations, IIWM, I would close the valve about 2 turns.
    Then loosen the nut about 1 turn, clean the paint off of the threads on the stem. Then tighten the nut carefully while turning the valve in and out sightly. You do not want to crack that nut.
    mike212
  • gfrbrookline
    gfrbrookline Member Posts: 753
    If that doesn't work you may need to repack the nut as the gasket may have disintegrated.

    Order this, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QEUSMS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Loosen the nut and lift it up, wrap the rope three times around the spindle cut to size, tighten the nut and you should be good to go, you just made a new gasket. Check for leaks by wrapping toilet paper around the spindle. If it is dry through a heating cycle you are good to go.
    mike212

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