Steam pipe hissing and leaking NYC top floor

tintinmar

Hello,

I live on the top floor of a 5th floor building. My pipe has been making a lot of hissing noise since the heat has been turned on and water is leaking so much that I now have some flies around.

My super has not been very helpful and just says it is what it is. Is there anything I can ask to be done?

Here's a video https://youtube.com/shorts/i3A2D--KmP4?feature=share

Thanks!

ethicalpaul

The vent has a hole rusted through the bottom and must be replaced. This is not "it is what it is", this is a failed part with an easy solution.

The vent is the chrome thing with the hole in it. It should allow air to escape the pipe, but then it should close when steam gets to it.

Waher

It looks like either the bottom of the air vent failed and it needs to be replaced or the tapping the vent is screwed into has rusted away and is leaking. You need to post a clearer photo.

Replacing the vent is a 2 minute fix with the system shut off. If the tapping has failed, drilling it out for a larger tapping, assuming the pipe hasn't rusted into mush, screwing in a reducing bushing, and reinstalling the vent would take a couple of minutes with the system off.

The Superintendent should start caring unless he wants to deal with expensive plaster repairs and having to add excessive make up water to the boiler which will decrease the life of the boiler.

ethicalpaul

Also, this condition will put a huge amount of moisture into your living space (as you have seen) and could result in damage to your stuff and/or mold growth