Defective Gorton valves?

Dollr

Installed a brand new Gorton #C and #4 on 2 radiators today. Through 3 heating cycles neither of them has closed. They just hiss steam till the boiler shuts off. Only close if I slapped them. Can’t be how they’re supposed to work. Send them back? Thanks.

Fred

Are the radiators hot all the way across? No vent closes if the thermostat is satisfied before the radiator needs to get hot all the way across.

ChrisJ

> @Fred said:
> Are the radiators hot all the way across? No vent closes if the thermostat is satisfied before the radiator needs to get hot all the way across.

They said they hiss steam.

Dollr

All my Hoffmans on the other radiators close as normal. It’s my first time using Gortons. Thought I’d try them. Some say that they are quieter. Got them at Supply House. Think I’ll trade them back in for Hoffman’s. I don’t mind the click. It’s the sound of comfort! Thanks for your comments.

Fred

ChrisJ said:

> @Fred said:

> Are the radiators hot all the way across? No vent closes if the thermostat is satisfied before the radiator needs to get hot all the way across.



They said they hiss steam.

You can hear vents blow/his air if the pressure is high enough, especially with large rads that have a lot of air in them.

ChrisJ

> @Fred said:
> (Quote)
> You can hear vents blow/his air if the pressure is high enough, especially with large rads that have a lot of air in them.

Fred,
Steam my friend.

Fred

ChrisJ said:

> @Fred said:

> (Quote)

> You can hear vents blow/hiss air if the pressure is high enough, especially with large rads that have a lot of air in them.



Fred,

Steam my friend.

I don't know @ChrisJ . The one time I had a Hoffman vent stick open, I could actually see the steam plume condensing in the air, out of the top of the vent. Just seems to me that if it is really steam, you'd see it condensing.

ChrisJ

> @Fred said:
> (Quote)
> I don't know @ChrisJ . The one time I had a Hoffman vent stick open, I could actually see the steam plume condensing in the air, out of the top of the vent. Just seems to me that if it is really steam, you'd see it condensing.

Yes,
That's why they said steam.

Dollr

Yup, it’s really steam coming out. Thanks guys.

Lard

I had bad luck with a couple new Gortons last year. They were corroded on the seat, float, and body (White “barnacles”) and had to have a concussive adjustment just like yours to close.

They were C’s from Supplyhouse, now fully cleaned and modified as experimental 0.3mm orifice units that work flawlessly. None of the other Gortons I have obtained had this issue right out of the bag.

Dollr

”concussive adjustment“ love that!

gfrbrookline

I had issues with Gorton's not closing within the past year, would gurgle through the end of the heating cycle even though the vent was steam hot. Tapping made them close, I tried adjusting their tilt to have them vertical which helped but swapping them out was the option that worked.

ethicalpaul

Just for curiosity's sake, give a Maid O Mist from Supplyhouse a try. You can get 1 for 1/3 the price of a Gorton. If the same thing happens you can be pretty sure it's not Gorton's fault, whatever is going on.

As much as you hear me push the convenience, price and reliability of my MoM's even I think there must be something else at play for Gortons to be failing like this.

Steamhead

Gorton is pretty good about handling issues like this- give them a call.

Dollr

Thanks for the advice, appreciated. I put a Hoffman #40 on from my “archive”. Functions as it should. I’m going to trade in the Gortons for 1-A’s. Thanks

ChrisJ

> @Dollr said:
> Thanks for the advice, appreciated. I put a Hoffman #40 on from my “archive”. Functions as it should. I’m going to trade in the Gortons for 1-A’s. Thanks

I had 12 new 1As. They all got swapped out for Gortons back in 2012 due to endless fun..

Dollr

Understood. I have 5 1A’ on other radiators for the last 6 years without problems.

ChrisJ

Dollr said:

Understood. I have 5 1A’ on other radiators for the last 6 years without problems.

If you like them and they work for your system I can understand making that decision. Nothing wrong with that.

Fred

@Dollr , I've got 15 Hoffman 1A's on my radiators. been there for over 25 years with no problem. I replaced Hoffman 40's to better balance the system. They work.

Dollr

I like the Hoffman’s but tried to experiment with the Gortons. They are probably perfectly fine vents. Just didn’t work for me for whatever reason. Thanks to all for the comments. Great community.