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Is this vent installed properly?

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tsgrau
tsgrau Member Posts: 10
in Radiant Heating
I just bought a house so I'm learning about my steam radiator system single pipe flow. My radiators have these small vents on them, but I don't see any way to adjust the vent so that I can adjust the temperature for the room. So I am wondering if these are the right vents and if they are installed properly?

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  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,097
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    Yes..they are installed properly, but those are not adjustable.  They do make adjustable Steam vents, but I am not a big fan of them.  A simple and easier first step solution is using Gorton vents.  They come with different size holes.  You want less heat = smallest hole (6). More Heat = Largest (D).  Try that first.  Mad Dog 🐕 
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 922
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    If you are new to the house, best advice is to see how the system performs before making changes. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". 
    —
    Bburd
    EdTheHeaterManMad Dog_2leonz
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,889
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    bburd said:

    If you are new to the house, best advice is to see how the system performs before making changes. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". 

    This. @tsgrau , where are you located? We may know someone who can help you when the time comes.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Mad Dog_2
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,097
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    Yes...You always need to establish a Baseline.  Mad Dog 🐕 
    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    leonz
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,723
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    Mad Dog_2 said:

    Yes..they are installed properly, but those are not adjustable.  They do make adjustable Steam vents, but I am not a big fan of them.  A simple and easier first step solution is using Gorton vents.  They come with different size holes.  You want less heat = smallest hole (6). More Heat = Largest (D).  Try that first.  Mad Dog 🐕 

    The smallest Gorton is a #4, followed by #5 (same for Maid O Mist). I find #6 to be rather large
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    Mad Dog_2leonz
  • tsgrau
    tsgrau Member Posts: 10
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    I agree with the "ain't broke.." thought for sure.  In fact, I take it a little further sometimes with " if it ain't broke that bad, don't fix it " 😆  Right now I'm seeing about a 6° difference between my downstairs and my upstairs. And I think it's because the downstairs radiators are just so much closer to the boiler so they heat up faster and longer than the upstairs ones.
  • tsgrau
    tsgrau Member Posts: 10
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    BTW, located near Macomb County MI if you know of any good service tech's.  
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 922
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    This sounds like inadequate main venting and/or abnormally short thermostat cycles. The burner is not running long enough to get steam to all of the radiators before the thermostat shuts it off.

    What kind of thermostat do you have? 

    —
    Bburd

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