Proper pitch?

lisab

Hello,
I'm a renter in an old building and I was having trouble with one of my steam radiators- it was whizzing and making gurgling sounds. I changed the outlet valve to a new Gorton C and it became better, but still sounded gurgly. I checked and it was not pitched correctly, tilting backwards towards in the inlet valve. I hired someone as my super wasn't able to help, but they didn't check with a level before they left and I'm not sure if it's pitched properly. I definitely don't want to cause any damage. Depending on how you place the level, it shows: reverse pitch, perfect pitch, and over pitch. I'm not sure which is correct?

It shows reverse pitch if you place the level either on a piece of wood crossing the whole radiator, or if you place the level on the left-most side of the radiator at the inlet valve. But, I think it's because the left-most section of the radiator is longer than the other sections. So is that to be disregarded?

In this pic you can see over pitch, when the level is at the right side of the radiator near the outlet valve-

In this pic you can see correct slight pitch, when the level is resting on the left side of the radiator but not on the section furthest to the left-

And there's also correct slight pitch when the level is at the bottom of the radiator-

Finally there's a slight reverse pitch towards the inlet valve I place the level along the entire span of the radiator (including the left-most section) -

I wonder which way of measuring of the level is correct?

Also, is it okay that the back left leg of the radiator is not resting on anything but is in the air?

Or maybe we should have measured the ground and then the wood elevation rather than the radiator itself?

ethicalpaul

No, don't measure the floor. No telling what way that thing is pitching.

You have a tall section over there on the left that is messing up your measurement when you use the piece of wood. I wouldn't use that.

Probably best in your case is the one where you have the level on the bottom of the radiator. Try to get that pitch correct.

If there is still gurgling after you do that, the gurgling might be coming from the near-horizontal section of pipe that is typically just under the floor. To fix that you might be able to lift BOTH ends of your radiator slightly.

PS: if the person you hired didn't use a level, then what exactly did they do?

Jamie Hall

Is this thing a one pipe radiator? I expect so, since you mention an outlet "valve" (vent?). If so, the end nearest the inlet pipe must be lower than the other end. It is not at all clear whether that is the case here.

SteamingatMohawk

To complicate your data even more, you could try to put the level (if it fits) on the section(s) to see how vertical it is. Your level has the vial for doing that, it's probably difficult, if not impossible, to do it between sections. Maybe just the ends will be useful data.

lisab

Jamie Hall said:

Is this thing a one pipe radiator? I expect so, since you mention an outlet "valve" (vent?). If so, the end nearest the inlet pipe must be lower than the other end. It is not at all clear whether that is the case here.

Yes, it is a one pipe radiator! I also can't figure out if the inlet pipe end is lower than the other end-- and if so, if it is too low or just right. Depending on where I place the level, it shows different things.

lisab

SteamingatMohawk said:

To complicate your data even more, you could try to put the level (if it fits) on the section(s) to see how vertical it is. Your level has the vial for doing that, it's probably difficult, if not impossible, to do it between sections. Maybe just the ends will be useful data.

Interesting! Do you mean, placing the level perpendicularly to one of the radiator sections? Each section ends in a kind of pointy edge so I don't know if I can do that.

lisab

ethicalpaul said:

No, don't measure the floor. No telling what way that thing is pitching.

You have a tall section over there on the left that is messing up your measurement when you use the piece of wood. I wouldn't use that.

Probably best in your case is the one where you have the level on the bottom of the radiator. Try to get that pitch correct.

If there is still gurgling after you do that, the gurgling might be coming from the near-horizontal section of pipe that is typically just under the floor. To fix that you might be able to lift BOTH ends of your radiator slightly.

PS: if the person you hired didn't use a level, then what exactly did they do?

The guy I hired brought a large level that didn't fit, since the radiator is in a corner, so they let me use my own small level. First he just put one piece of wood on one side of the radiator, and I took the level and checked myself, and it didn't show as pitched- it became even but not pitched. Then they put another piece of wood, sort of grumbling that I was insisting, and then I checked with a level and it seemed okay- they didn't look at it, and I started to feel bad like I was being particular. After they left, I looked again and it seemed much more pitched than my other radiator, and then I looked around online.

If the best measurement is where I have the level on the bottom of the radiator... then I seem to be good?

But I think this might not be accurate. Because I also checked with the level along the straight horizontal line between the two wood props. And via that line it shows to be too pitched- the bubble all the way in the right-side compartment. This image below is along the line between the two wood supports under the left and right sides of the radiator.



Also, do you think it's bad that the left-back foot of the radiator is not resting on anything steady, it's just in the air?

Jamie Hall

There is no such thing as "too pitched". Except it tends to look bad. You really want that condensate to flow out easily!

And yes, I'd put something under that foot. It would be very easy to lean hard on that radiator and tip it back -- and even if it came back up, that might loosen the union and then you'd have a pesky drip on top of everything else.

EBEBRATT-Ed

yes all the feet should be supported. With all your pictures we still don't know which end the valve is on and what is on the other end> An air vent?

Use the level vertically on the radiator on the end section

lisab

Jamie Hall said:

There is no such thing as "too pitched". Except it tends to look bad. You really want that condensate to flow out easily!

And yes, I'd put something under that foot. It would be very easy to lean hard on that radiator and tip it back -- and even if it came back up, that might loosen the union and then you'd have a pesky drip on top of everything else.

Oh that's great to know!! Okay then. I was able to get the super to help and insert a shim under the foot that wasn't supported. So I guess I'm good to go then. Thank you!!

lisab

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

yes all the feet should be supported. With all your pictures we still don't know which end the valve is on and what is on the other end> An air vent?

Use the level vertically on the radiator on the end section

Oh sorry, I guess I can't get it all into one photo. The inlet pipe is on the left and the outlet air vent is on the right.

ethicalpaul

I can't see what your piece of wood is resting on in the picture just above so I can't speak to it. Your level is so nice and small you should be able to place against the underside of the sections themselves, that's what I was suggesting since the top of your radiator is rather odd.

EdTheHeaterMan

Phew, Good thing I read through these comments, I totally misunderstood your meaning of pitch. Seems that I was thinking of musical pitch and was going to recommend a Pitch Pipe in order to get your singing group started on the correct note, or perhaps a tuning fork to get that musical instrument in tune. They even make electronic devices for that purpose.

Then I saw that Paul threw a curve ball on the subject with his comment about “PS: if the person you hired didn't use a level, then what exactly did they do?”
Then our creative Native American friend threw a sinker when he said “To complicate your data even more, you could try to put the level (if it fits) on the section(s) to see how vertical it is.”

But the best pitch was from @Jamie Hall when he tossed that slider “And yes, I'd put something under that foot. It would be very easy to lean hard on that radiator and tip it back -- and even if it came back up, that might loosen the union and then you'd have a pesky drip on top of everything else.” so be sure to slide something under that leg.

Well this is the end of my Pitch on radiator leveling.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Mr.Ed