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Steam riser releases dust into my apartment, help!

fmt1996
fmt1996 Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam

hi! I am no building or heat expert, just a girl with a really crappy, old, and CHEAP apartment.

In my apartment, the steam riders don’t go THROUGH my apartment, the stop in them. I have a top floor apt so it makes sense they stop somewhere, but I’ve never lived where the stopped INSIDE the apartment. This means at several hour intervals during heating months in NYC (October-May) I have steam AND a significant amount of dust being released into my apartment.

It hisses loudly, creates a mold problem if my windows aren’t cracked for release of the steam, and in general sucks!! As you can see in the images, there is dust permanently cooked onto the ceiling.

My thoughts on solutions: can add some sort of cap or L-shaped or curved pipe system connecting the two poles and a maybe a pole out the window?
are there filters that can go on the top to at least keep some dust out?

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If there are any NYC heating/steam experts who have a renter friendly solution OR a solution I can take to my building manager, I would be eternally grateful.

Comments

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,212

    Replace the vent. Shouldn't take much more than 60 seconds

    CLamb
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,212

    Your arrangement over there it's quite common

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,519

    To clarify, neither the steam riser itself nor the air & steam spewing out of the pipe contain dust. It's just blowing around what's in the adjacent area. As the Steam Doctor suggests, replace vents, they are likely blown. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    ethicalpaulCLamb
  • ARobertson13
    ARobertson13 Member Posts: 58

    FMT1996,

    Do not replace anything. Your lease as a tenant does not allow you to change vents on risers or anyplace else.

    Write your landlord or property manager and explain the situation. Inform him that the vents are not closing and need to be replaced. If you do it on yourself and something goes wrong, others below you and the landlord will not be pleased.

    STEAM DOCTORWaherCLamb
  • Dan_NJ
    Dan_NJ Member Posts: 257
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1808929#Comment_1808929

    You might want to mention that the leaking vent(s) are co$ting them money. How much is an open question but they paid something to either boil that water or bring it in from somewhere. And if it's their own boiler, extra makeup water sets it up for an early grave & replacement. Proper motivation just might work

  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,601

    You can also pot a sock over it.

    Retired and loving it.
    JUGHNEdabrakemanLong Beach Ed
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,495

    Chances are the pressure is too high as well.

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