Fitting to use angle air vents?

boobird

My first floor radiators all have vertical air vents. I can buy vertical vents online, but  supply houses only carry angled vents.

Q:  Gorton #5 seem suitable for the first floor?

Q: Is there a 1/8” 90 degree fitting (male/female) so I can use an angled vent?  

Q: how come my 3rd floor radiator doesn't work?  Valve is 90 degrees open with new vent.

Q:  I believe one first floor valve is blocked.  Can I change just the innards of the valve without replacing the entire valve?

Dan_NJ

I think I would have preferred having all straight vents on my radiators (back when i had radiators). I once had to do the opposite and change angled to straight because the tapping was slightly out of level and preventing all the condensate from draining out. It was an easier solution for me than re-tapping a 100 year old radiator.

ethicalpaul

Yes there is a 1/8" brass elbow and all other fittings available from Supplyhouse.com

They also have straight vents, I believe in both Maid O Mist and Gorton

mattmia2

If you use a street ell and an angle vent you are more likely to have issues with spitting. the radiators not heating could be many things, we need more information.

Waher

Short hex nipple to an elbow. Street elbows reduce the venting capacity slightly.

ethicalpaul

How do street elbows reduce the venting capacity? The vent's orifice is much much smaller than 1/8"

boobird

mattmia2 said:

If you use a street ell and an angle vent you are more likely to have issues with spitting. the radiators not heating could be many things, we need more information.

the basement supply pipe is hot and gets cold at the gate valve.  I tried replacing the vent but its still cold.  This is a first floor radiator.

I am guessing the gate valve is stuck despite being in the open position?  Whats the solution?

EdTheHeaterMan

ethicalpaul said:

How do street elbows reduce the venting capacity? The vent's orifice is much much smaller than 1/8"

Can you do a video on this topic Paul, I'm sure it has something to do with equivalent length of the fitting. https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/resistance-equivalent-length-d_192.html
A 1/4" 90° elbow is almost equal to 2.5 feet of strait pipe. So a 1/8" 90° elbow must be at least equal to 2 feet of strait pipe. Now that has to mean something to somebody somewhere.

You will need stop watch and your steam boiler and a box of street 90° elbows. First: time how long it takes to get steam to a given radiator and stop venting. Next put 2 elbows on one of your vents and time how long it takes to get steam to stop the same vent. If there is a immeasurable time difference, then you will have proven that there is no difference on small orifice vents.

I hope you don't think Im serious

Waher

ethicalpaul said:

How do street elbows reduce the venting capacity? The vent's orifice is much much smaller than 1/8"

It’s more of an issue on a main vent antler when maximizing vent cfm to pipe capacity. On a radiator the slightly smaller opening in the elbow may be more easily clogged by wet steam and cause the vent to work less efficiently. It’s minuscule, but I’m being fussy about doing it right versus saving a few cents on a short nipple.

ethicalpaul

No problem here, I have this on 4 of my radiators. Hard to tell in the photo, but the horizontal pipe is pitched slightly toward the radiator. I chose elbows not for $$ but for convenience.