Leaky/drippy supply valve? (but not packing nut/stem)

nc23

Hi,

Newbie to steam heat here and newbie to inhabiting a very old house. Bought my copy of We Got Steam Heat and looking forward to learning more from the community here.

Discovered that there is a leak from my supply valve. A lot of the resources (as well as the book) help to address leaks from the stem and packing nut, but this one is on the other side of the valve. It looks like the seal with the supply valve isn't tight and so water is pooling, then dripping off of the bottom.

What's the suitable fix here? Tighten the nut? Is pipedope or the like feasible for the top? It doesn't look like it's the first time the nut has been tightened given the wear marks on it…

Wonder if I may have caused it by shimming the radiator and loosening up the built-up rust that sealed it as it was fine for several months before.

Thanks

Long Beach Ed

You need a new valve. The union nut is whockerjawed. There's a chunk out of the top of it.

You can try tightening it, but that may make it worse or break it altogether in which case your drip would become a much more serious and immediate problem.

Generally with the Sun-rad style radiator you have, changing the valve isn't the most simple job. It usually requires pulling out the radiator.

Intplm.

@nc23 Look closely at the first picture. You have a crack on the ground-joint-union-nut part of the valve. Its located at about seven o'clock. As @Long Beach Ed mensions above, this valve needs to be replaced.

nc23

Thank you @Intplm. and @Long Beach Ed . Appreciate the guidance (and for teaching me a new word, "whockerjawed"). I'll look to get a pro in here for the replacement as I think my inexperience would make it a more serious problem if I tried to tighten it.

Separately, I'm wondering what you both think of the severity of the issue or if it's feasible to "limp" until spring. The drip is slow and mostly comes from the morning cycle when the system runs the longest.

Also is it a stupid idea to JB Weld as a temporary stopgap to spring or when I can get someone in the place?

Thanks for the education and your patience.

Grallert

You could try JB, can't hurt. Try this: get the system up to steam. mix the JB weld turn the boiler off block the air vent apply the JB. There might be a little vacuum assist to pull the mix into the cracks.

It's a leak and should be repaired ASAP. Is it critical? not really. Can it wait? likely yes.

Long Beach Ed

If you setback the temperature at night and heat the place back up in the morning you will be maximizing the condensate the radiator makes, and maximize the leak. Leave the heat at one temperature and it may only drip on the coldest of days. Put a foil pie tin under the leak and worry about it in the spring.

I don't think you'll have much luck with the JB Weld, but you won't hurt anything trying.

RTW

OP posted question:

 "Is pipedope or the like feasible "

Yes, if the leak is where valve connects to radiator, just separate, place and "ever so thin layer of pipe dope" on the connection, then reassemble. If that is where your leaking? I had the identical issue and on advice from my local Pumbling shop it worked - that was well over a decade ago

All the Best,

Regards,

RTW

RTW

If I'm on point, my suggestion will get you through to Spring, but you may want to change out that abused valve

All the best

RTW

Intplm.

Trying JB Weld is fine. It should fill that crack and help limp things a long till warmer weather.

Long Beach Ed

Let us know how it turns out…