Castray radiator in bedroom ticking

Don_175

Good morning,
With our one pipe steam system, when the heat comes on in the morning, the Cast Ray radiator in our bedroom makes a steady ticking sound while heating up. It is not a banging. More of a ticking one to two seconds apart and lasts less than a minute. I put plastic pieces under legs and tried to fit some between the pipe that comes out of the floor and the wood itself, but there isn't much room to maneuver under it. Once the radiator gets warm, it is very quiet. It is also tilted toward the supply pipe. Are these rads known for ticking when warming up? thanks
Don

Jamie Hall

They are indeed known for that. It can be almost impossible to stop... some people find it comforting (wonderful! The heat is working!).

ethicalpaul

I have a hundred year old American that does it too...I once thought it was due to a little water lying in it (micro-hammer, if that's a term), but now I'm quite sure it's expansion. I'm afraid to try the tie rod.

Don_175

LOL. Thanks guys. I do love the steam heat and don't mind the ticking/tapping per se, but at 5:45 each AM....Per this forum, I am going to decrease our setback to a max 0f 3-4 degrees at night. Maybe there won't be so much expansion in the am.