Inside Heat-timer Varivalve Radiator Vents
Comments
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I assume that you're saying a valve that closes with room temperature water may not close with temperature in excess of 140F. Is there any other way the system would flood other than due to a fill valve failure or error? Because if a fill valve is opened, then the fill water is not at heating temperature, and thus the case will not be in the temp range that you are talking of.
And what difference does the steam cycle timing make to a float test? My test fits your other criteria, the pressure was about 1.7 psi.
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Usually more like surging or priming or water hammer and a slug of water getting thrown at the vent.
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I'm enough of a steam newby to not understand how any of that can bring the water level in a rad high enough to fill the vent.
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Jells, Did I mention your test? No. Do I have issues with your test. Thinking over Yes, Is there a difference at different times during a steam cycle. Yes. You my think that because there is no water leaving the vent is because the float is floating but it is actually be cause it is closed do to pressure plus case temperature. Also, moving the device around may effect the results. Everything is not always as simple as they arrear.
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It isn't going to fill with water unless something is very wrong but some things can throw a slug of water around that can follow the air to the vent.
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Jells,
In a building that I manage, a water treatment company tested and treated the boiler water. The bypass valve was a round handled type not a lever type and was not fully closed. Water filled the boiler went up the mains into the Coop president's apartment. She called the man operating the boiler and he drained the water out. There are low water cutoff devices but no high level cutoffs. So it is possible for water to enter a radiator from the basement. This is can happen.
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You posted about tests after I posted my test video, it appeared to be a response. I'm honestly not sure what you're trying to say, you seem more concerned about inappropriate closing than closing failure, which is really what this thread is about at this point. Closing in a steam overpressure situation is a lesser concern than failing to close in a flooded rad case. The PRV on the boiler is the safety. If the vent is hot enough, the valve closes, that's it's job. If there's enough flow, it closes. All you have to do to see that is blow. What the float is for is for low pressure water at temp lower than the closing temp of the valve. It worked.
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Now you're just not reading the posts. I had already said "Is there any other way the system would flood other than due to a fill valve failure or error?"
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Jells, My only concern is proper testing, which is as I have stated repeatedly, is a problem in the steam heating industry.
I tested varivalves last year and two out of the 6 I purchased failed closed just like was mentioned on this discussion.
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To me that's just another reason to not use them, in addition to their lacking floats. I won't make that mistake again.
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@Jells I had considered the possibility of the volume of water blowing the vent shut in your test.
But, I also don't know how likely that is. So, until I feel like doing my own test I'm going to have to consider yours adequate. I too am a bit confused by the responses by @ARobertson13 and to me it did seem like he was responding to your post.
I guess it's just a classic case of confusion and things lost via test.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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To All, Just read the discussion I wrote about Vent testing and repair. It goes over everything. There are also comments made by members and my responses. Please note: everything that I mention on this site I have witnessed in person.
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I don't know exactly how to format a test to rule that out, perhaps instead of a simple cock valve use a little pin valve to make it only a trickle? But it was pretty obvious to me that volume of water wasn't enough vs what it takes to close it by blowing through.
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