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Hissing radiator valve

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toraziyal
toraziyal Member Posts: 8
in Strictly Steam
We have a 1 pipe system. There is one radiator that is hissing from the valve, not the air vent. The problem only seems to occur in the morning when the starting temperature of the house is lower. There doesn’t seem to be any water on the floor as if the valve was leaking. Any advice?

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  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 1,969
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    The hissing sound most likely is coming from the valve stem where the packing nut is.
    Tighten the packing nut below the valve handle at the bottom of the valve stem.
    This should compress the valve stem packing inside the packing nut against the valve stem stopping the hissing noise.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    The packing nut on the stem may need tightening or repacking.
    I would loosen first and clean any paint on the threads below it, then tighten just a little. It sometimes helps to operate the valve stem up and down as you tighten the nut.

    Those nuts can crack pretty easy and probably not replaceable.
  • toraziyal
    toraziyal Member Posts: 8
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    That seems to be exactly where it's coming from, the stem. I'll try those tips.
  • toraziyal
    toraziyal Member Posts: 8
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    Found the culprit! Looks like there is a crack near the threads. Can't turn the valve and the stem is bent.


  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,327
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    Somebody went after that poor thing. It's busted, and there's no good fix. If you were really lucky and the stars aligned, you might be able to find a similar valve somewhere, and -- after the heating season is over -- take the whole bonnet off, stem and all, and swap another one in. Not very likely, granted, but sometimes...

    For the time being, since you can't move the stem any, you may be able to cure the hiss -- and the steam leak, which is using more water in your boiler than you want -- by really thoroughly cleaning that cracked nut and the stem and encapsulating the whole thing with JB Weld. At least it won't make it worse...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    Not far from completely breaking off.
    I would say time for an new valve....unless you have an identical one taken out somewhere and rob it's parts.
  • mikespipe
    mikespipe Member Posts: 36
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    the advice given so far is right on the money propoxy or jb weld that broken one until you can replace the valve with a new one. either will last out the heating season and you can do it right when the weather is warm
    Intplm.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    edited December 2020
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    Maybe you can remove the bonnet and valve stem, and have the packing area brazed shut. You only need the valve to work for maintenance once in a blue moon.—NBC

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