Advice needed! Banging pipes!

M. Reinblatt

I presently rent an apartment in Manhattan, New York. They use steam pipe heating (a single pipe system I believe). I have two problems with it, which the superintendent and hanydmen do not seem to know how or want to fix! The entire building (basement, laundry room, lobby) resonates this hammering sound. Many other tenants have complained. The super says it is a building problem that has been around for 16+ years...

1. There is a constant hammer-like banging from both radiators. I cannot sleep, watch television, or read in my apartment. It's driving me nuts. I have opened the radiators-The pipes do not appear to be insulated and are wrapped in some sort of steel wool. The handymen have changes the "element" of each radiator (air valves?). After changing the elements, one radiator continues to hammer relentlessly and the other now has a constant hissing sound. The hammering seems to start up in the morning, when the boiler is first turned on. Nontheless, the banging noise is loud and persists throughout the entire day.

2. The apartment is so hot I can barely breath. It is an intolerable steam bath. Opening both windows does not help either. Hot air seems to just pour out of the radiators, whether the radiator knob is turned on or off. Is there some way to regulate the heat in my apartment with some sort of valve? The handymen have advised me to simply turn the radiator knobs off. This does not help at all. As well, won't turning the radiator off worsen the hammering by forming more air bubbles?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have had the building maintenance up in my apartment 4 times in the past few weeks. They tell me to give it time...Although this is most likely a building problem it must be fixed. Moreover, if there is a way to control the heat in my apartment I am desparate to find a solution (purchasing a thermostatic radiator valve?).

Thank you.

Steamhead

This is NOT a \"building problem\"

Have the building owner get in touch with a contractor who knows steam. There are plenty in the NYC area. Go to the Find a Contractor page of this site to locate one.

When a steam system bangs, it's telling you something is wrong. If the super can't find the problem, get someone in there who can.

To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Jackchips

If you can not

get the building super to do anything go to books and more and purchase Dan's books on the lost art of Steam. When you have read these you can speak with the super with some insight and may get him to actually read them.
Good luck.