Vertically Levelling a Radiator and Tie Rod Tightness

VeritechVF1S

Greetings!

I have a radiator in my bedroom that has been giving me trouble since I moved into my home a little over two years ago. It gets noisy during the middle of the heating cycle. However, the noise sounds more like that of expansion, rather than water hammer. I will try to get a decent clip of it later today and post it.

However, whether or not the noise is water hammer or expansion, this leaves me with a couple questions. You can tell from the picture that the radiator is not levelled vertically. I've read quite a bit about the importance of horizontal pitch, but I suppose I've not seen much out there regarding vertical levelling and whether or not it makes a difference in its operation. Should I bother disconnecting the radiator, raise the right side, and then reconnect it?

Next, is there a rule of thumb for how tight the tie rods on the radiator should be? Should I expect some play while the radiator is cold and then find them to be tight as the radiator heats up? Or should they be tight while cold? There is currently some play with the lower tie rod when cold.

Thanks for your help! I'll post a clip of the sound when I'm home later.

ethicalpaul

Yikes, i'd be afraid of it tipping over. It's the leaning radiator of Pisa!

You shouldn't have to disconnect it to make it stand straight. Gently push it and insert thicker pads on the lower side and it should be OK.

Regarding the noise, I have a radiator that always makes "tink" sounds as it heats up regardless of pitch. I believe it's expansion. Luckily my wife likes the sound because she knows heat is coming when she hears it.

delcrossv

I'd loosen the union (but don't undo it all the way) then level it as @ethicalpaul says.

Jamie Hall

The above on levelling side to side. The tension rod should be tight when cold — but not real tight. Don't need a torque wrench, but if the threads are clean take it up to finger tight, and then no more than 1/2 turn with a wrench. No more than that.

mattmia2

I'd make sure the floor isn't rotting out too, looks kind of wet there.