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Steam convector noise

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dfavoriten
dfavoriten Member Posts: 19
in Strictly Steam

My steam convector is making some weird noise when heating starts. Here’s the video : https://youtube.com/shorts/q619q3dOlUw?si=H92irkoNFkvUZ8Nb

There is only 1 pipe connected to it, and it is pitched toward that pipe.

What could be causing that noise ?

Could it be cause by the extended height of the valve connected to it ? See pic attached .

This convector is at the end of a line of convectors. The other 2 don’t make that noise.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    it is condensate trapped somewhere colliding with the steam entering the convector. it could be in the convector itself or it could be in the piping to it somewhere. is the convector pitched toward the valve? is the valve entering in such a way that pitch toward the supply and and the valve itself are one in the same? some convectors have side connections toward the center that sort of form a u that can trap condensate

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    is the valve open all the way?

  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    There is only 1 pipe connected to the convector, and the convector is pitched toward that pipe.

    I don’t see a valve handle under or over the convector. See attached pics.

    Am guessing the valve handle is under the floor / hidden in the basement ceiling.

    IMG_1674.jpeg
    IMG_1673.jpeg
  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    and today I noticed some water ( maybe 5 drops) is coming out of the vent connected to the convector.

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,835

    Certainly sounds like condensate and steam colliding as mentioned above. What has changed to make this system do this? What work to the system? Look to that first. You can also try adding more pitch to the pipe.

  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    what would cause a convector vent to spit out water ? Plumber’s replaced that vent several times now, and even extended its connection to the convector so it sits higher.


    There was an error displaying this embed.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    water spitting from the vent isn't a problem with the vent. the problem is water is in the piping somewhere and being propelled toward the vent. the vent will just as happily vent dry air or air with a mist of water in it. make sure the convector has pitch toward the pipe. the fact that it is connected with copper shows someone that didn't know what they were doing was involved at some point. if just raising the far end doesn't help, try raising the supply end as well and raise the vent end even more to keep pitch on it and to hopefully add pitch to the piping in the floor.

  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    I read in Dan’s book and saw in his videos that using copper for header and risers is bad.

    So you’re saying using copper for the pipe connecting the convector to the vent is also bad ? Is it because copper will deform because of steam heat ?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    copper is much more conductive than black iron so it condenses more steam than black iron and expands significantly more with temp changes than black iron. it isn't your problem but it can make your problem worse

  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,129

    what's the boiler doing for pressure?

    Ptrol settings, and pigtail service, show us a picture of the controls side of the boiler

    known to beat dead horses
  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19
    edited December 28

    here’s a pic of the pressuretrol


    IMG_1681.jpeg
  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    Noise has reduced since I added some pitch to the convector.

    how much pitch can I safely add to it without causing a leak on the supply connection to the convector ?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    as long as you don't break the pipe off but an inch or so over the length of it should do it.

    Intplm.
  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,129
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1879478#Comment_1879478

    have you, or anyone serviced the pigtail?

    they get clogged up, it needs to be free breathing back into the boiler so your gage and Ptrol can see the boiler pressure,

    and high pressure could be adding to, or be your issue,

    known to beat dead horses
  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19

    the boiler is newly installed ( Sep this year ). It replaced a 38 year old boiler.

    only started using the boiler in Nov.

    Have not had it serviced since.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,652

    is the new boiler properly piped? has it been skimmed properly?

  • neilc
    neilc Member Posts: 3,129

    yeah, let's see the whole boiler, floor to ceiling, a couple angles, so we see connected piping, and one shot of the controls side, so we see sightglass, LWCO, and that Ptrol, all in one shot, as Mattia asks, has the new boiler been skimmed? how many times?

    known to beat dead horses
  • dfavoriten
    dfavoriten Member Posts: 19
    edited December 29

    I posted pictures of my boiler in an earlier / separate forum post here :

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/202997/near-boiler-piping-what-do-you-think

    In summary, I have a Weil Mclain Eg-40 boiler, which has an undersized riser and header. Has 1 riser and 1 header (both 2 inches - should be 2.5" per the manual). Has an equalizer though. Pressuretrol is set to 0.5 psi.

    I spoke with the installer, and we plan on replacing the piping with two 2.5" diameter x 24" height risers, a 2.5" header (drop header) to ensure proper compliance with the boiler manual.

    Will post more pics of the boiler and the supply mains later.

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