Rattling heating pipe

nyc1993

https://imgur.com/a/qpLhMYg

This happens whenever the heating system is on. I have complained nonstop to the management and finally the superintendent came today and told me that it's simply hot steam being pushed up through the cold pipe that does this. However this happens all throughout the day, whenever the heat is running, not just when the system is starting up in the morning. The super is not a native english speaker and has a thick accent making it almost impossible to have a conversation about this with him. He says it's normal for it to rattle like this and everyone just lives like this in these NYC pre-war apartments but I find it hard to believe. Is my best option to find an outside plumber to fix it?

Jamie Hall

I like your cat! No, that noise is not normal for steam — but it is almost certainly a noise "telegraphing" from some other noise source, maybe not even the boiler. Which is not in your apartment. Most likely in the mechanical room — and if you are a tenant, which I gather you are, that is something you can complain about — bit it is the landlord's job to fix it.

EdTheHeaterMan

Sounds like there is a cat stuck in your heater

EdTheHeaterMan

Outside plumber is not the best idea, do you have authority to even call someone to fix it? I'm not even sure that is a steam system. It sounds more like a flow control valve rattle on a hot water system. Are you the owner of the apartment that was made into condominiums, or are you just renting your apartment?

When the department of health and human services sends the building owner a violation, that speaks louder that any tenant complaining. It even breaks that language barrier.

nyc1993

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1818172#Comment_1818172

i'm just renting this apartment. so would you advice contacting that department? or what would be my best bet? explaining to management what you and the other poster have said?

EdTheHeaterMan

Can you email the owner or management company? The language barrier will be overcome when your concerns are in writing. Management company first, then department of health department or renters rights or whatever NYC has that controls tenant complaints. You don't want to be THAT person right off the bat. Include the video in your email.

Everything must be in writing with nmes , dates and time. Save all your text and emails in case this gets to court. Anything that is communicated verbally should be followed up with a written email or text or letter.

Like this:

Dear Management Company Person 's name.

Thanks for taking the time to address my concern with the heating system noise. I understood you to say that you were going to do this and that and the other thing. Yada, yada, yada. (that is a New York City thing)

If I did not understand you correctly, could you please reply to this email with the correct information. If this information is correct, please reply that you received this correspondence. 

Thank You for addressing my concerns.   

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1818169#Comment_1818169

I also want to meet the cat.

can you show us a picture of a radiator, that will tell us if it is steam or hot water. that's a lot of violence if it is steam but that type of riser looks like 1 pipe steam. Maybe a condensate pump destroying itself because steam is getting in to it.

nyc1993

here is the radiator. i don't believe any heat comes from it though, just the long floor to ceiling pipe. there is a knob on the side that might need to be turned?

mattmia2

It is 1 pipe steam.

The radiator should heat. I guess the question is is the apartment warm enough without it heating. Whatever is causing it to not heat may be a clue to the noise. And likely is costing the landlord a lot in wasted fuel.