How to adjust for an oversized radiator

umscheidt

Is there anyway to adjust for an oversized radiator that keeps the bedroom too warm?

I have a 2nd floor radiator that has always kept the master bedroom too hot for our liking. It’s 25 inches tall, has 5 tubes and 17 sections. I calculate it to be 59.5 sq ft. During winter it’s typically 3-4 degrees warmer upstairs than downstairs 

Short of turning off the radiator at the valve, or removing and replacing with a smaller radiator, is there anything I can do to help better make this room less hot?

bburd

The easiest thing to try is to remove that lower air vent and replace it with a pipe plug. Normally a steam radiator has only one vent in the lower position. Someone in the past must have double vented that radiator to get it to heat faster.

With the upper vent only, the radiator will fill with much less steam. If this works so well that the room is too cold, you could put a quality adjustable vent like a Vent-Rite #1 in the lower hole and plug the upper hole.

It's important to buy well-made air vents. You will not find them at the local big box store.

umscheidt

Awesome thanks! That’s an easy solution. Yes I had it on my list to replace all my radiator vents this year as well - was planning on Hoffman 40s

bburd

The Hoffman 40 is a well-made, reliable and relatively slow vent. However, it is not adjustable.

Many of us here like Gorton, which have to be purchased in the necessary sizes; or Maid-o'-Mist, which is a less expensive Gorton clone that comes with orifices of different sizes to adjust the venting rate.

If the radiators are correctly sized and the main venting is adequate so that steam reaches all radiator takeoffs at about the same time, the venting rate of individual radiators is usually selected based on the radiator size. That is a large radiator.

Big Ed_4

Use the Hoffman 1A they are adjustable ...

ethicalpaul

If that's not enough, put a blanket on it

EBEBRATT-Ed

@umscheidt

If removing 1 vent does not work then this would be a good spot for a TRV...thermostatic radiator valve.

mattmia2

you can start with not having 2 vents...

EdTheHeaterMan

Try painting it a different color. https://www.heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/Emissive-Tests-of-Paints-for-Decreasing-or-Increasing-Heat-Radiation-from-Surfaces-1924.pdf
According to the United States Department of Commerce, If you paint the radiator gold or silver it will emitt less heat that a black or white radiator. And adding metallic to the paint will reduce the efficiency even more. Read this https://www.heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/does-the-color-of-a-radiator-matter/


After that, if you need less heat you can have a radiator cover built to fit over it. Anything that slows the radiant heat form entering the room or to slow down the convection currents will make that radiator less efficient.
These fancy covers were all the rage in the 1930s
You might find them at a scrap yard or antique dealer

dabrakeman

Just slow the venting down first.  Ventrite 1a is good choice for an adjustable slow vent.