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Leaking stem on new steam valve

SergeBudzyn
SergeBudzyn Member Posts: 4
in Strictly Steam
We have installed two different manufacturer's 1-1/4" low pressure steam valves on the same radiator with both valves having significant steam leaks at the stem. Tightening the packing nut did not help. The first valve had a cheesy teflon packing washer that just got wrecked by tightening the nut.

Is this a problem that other folks have experienced with new valves and is there a reliable remedy, or do we keep replacing with another manufacturer's valve until there is no leak?
(We had successfully replaced two other valves with the first manufacturer's valves with no leaks!)

Comments

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,502
    It's amazing at how stuf is just crap today and expensive crap at that. Try picking up some valve packing at the hardware store and wind some of that under the packing nut.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • SergeBudzyn
    SergeBudzyn Member Posts: 4
    Thanks, Bob. I tried that with the first valve and it just compressed under the teflon packing and got stuck without any improvement. Ruined the teflon and voided the "warranty" in the process.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,955
    Did you look at the surface finish of the stem? Did they screw something up in the machining process so there is a leak path on the stem?
  • dko
    dko Member Posts: 668
    Out of curiosity, what is the brand of the bad valve
  • SergeBudzyn
    SergeBudzyn Member Posts: 4
    Legend
  • dko
    dko Member Posts: 668
    edited April 2023
    When shopping for radiator valves, pick the one that has the white ptfe disc and not the black epdm.



    Not that this has anything to do with your stem leaking, but the white ptfe disc valves are usually reserved for the heavier duty valves for not that much more money.

    Most brands sell a regular and a heavy pattern version, same for Legend.

    Legend valves are widely used without issue and they stand behind their imports so I'd say those are just unfortunate outliers. But I will agree there are better quality, the BARVY heavy pattern from Matco-Norca is the golden standard around here.
  • SergeBudzyn
    SergeBudzyn Member Posts: 4
    thank you, dko. As luck would have it, we've got the black epdm!

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