Steam radiator shut off valve spitting steam

mmc239

How do I make the shut off valve stop spitting water. 

EdTheHeaterMan

Tighten the packing nut

If the packing nut is already tight, then loosen the nut all the way and lift it off the valve up to the handle. then wrap teflon tape around the valve stem about 6 times and push the packing nut back down on the threads and tighten.

If that don't work you need a new valve.

neilc

or we have to ask "what's happening at the boiler?", why is wet steam up that high?
boiler pressure ?

mattmia2

Be gentle with the nut, don't really crank on it, it is easy to split them. It is better to tighten it until you feel it tighten up and back it off and repeat a couple times than to turn as hard as you can.

random12345

Non-pro here. I have had good success with Palmetto 5000. It is made of graphite. Get the 1/8" thick version and cut a length just long enough to wrap once around the valve stem without overlapping. Teflon tape as suggested by @EdTheHeaterMan may work fine as well. I have found the imported tapes are flimsy though and tend to disintegrate.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0087UET0M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

EdTheHeaterMan

random12345 said:

Non-pro here. I have had good success with Palmetto 5000. It is made of graphite. Get the 1/8" thick version and cut a length just long enough to wrap once around the valve stem without overlapping. Teflon tape as suggested by @EdTheHeaterMan may work fine as well. I have found the imported tapes are flimsy though and tend to disintegrate.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0087UET0M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Agree with you. Getting a roll of packing gland material is the better choice, however there is a better chance that someone like @mmc239 already has Teflon tape. Save $25.00 with Tax and Shipping

mmc239

Right now the nut is loose. Do I have to force it down to catch the threads? Does anyone have a video of the repair

EdTheHeaterMan

If the packing nut is loose then it will leak steam and possibly water. Push it down (force is a strong word because that is old and the threads might go together easy or not os easy, but you need to use common sense) and turn it clockwise with your fingers or a spanner (open end) wrench until the threads catch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYS_6_dkkYE

The video shows the repair with the stem and bonnet removed. You may not need to go that far. If you can get 6 wraps of teflon tape around the stem under the nut, then push the nut back on and tighten, then you are good to go.

mmc239

Should I remove the old worn gasket before I put the graphite packing in the packing nut?

Jamie Hall

I would. The new graphite packing should so the job very well on its own.

mattmia2

Be careful with the old packing, frequently the fiber was asbestos. If you found it not threaded on you might need to close the valve some first. Turn it a turn or 2 by hand to make sure the threads caught correctly so you don't cross thread it.

mmc239

Ok thanks. The old stuff is not packing. It’s a round gasket. Should I remove it?

Jamie Hall

mmc239 said:

Ok thanks. The old stuff is not packing. It’s a round gasket. Should I remove it?

No, unless it is damaged. If it is damaged, you'll need to replace it.

mattmia2

Or if it is rubber and is crumbling or otherwise deteriorating. If you replace it with teflon string packing the teflon will never rot. You will have to fill it in stages, put some in, tighten the nut to compress it, put a little more in, tighten it gently, maybe add some a 3rd time.

pedmec

Use fine thread wick. Wrap around stem and put pipe dope on the wick. Tighten packing and you should be all set.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Wal-rich-1906020-Ball-Wick