Leaky valves on a one pipe steam system

Vicki_2

The valves that are leaking are the radiator shut off valve and the steam release valve on the other side of where the pipe connects. It is summer time here and for the life of me can't understand why the radiators would be leaking the heat is off. It's not leaking a little, it's leaking a lot. There was a puddle across my kitchen floor yesterday, now the radiator in the dining room is leaking as well, there is a puddle in the dining room too.

Can any one please give me some advice before I have to get the plumbers out here and get charged an arm and a leg.

Thanks

Vicki

jim bannister

Vivki,

It sounds as if the boiler has been feeding and the system is now flooded. Check the pressure gauge on the boiler. This should be at the zero position. Either the feeder is leaking by (if you have an automatic feeder) or the manual fill valve is leaking by or partially open. You should be able to see the water level in the glass. If not, find the source of the leak and drain the boiler down to the proper level. Also, if you have an internal tankless coil for your domestic hot water, this could be leaking by into the boiler system. This problem will not go away on its' own and should be corrected ASAP.

Vicki_2

Thanks.

After I posted my first message. I took off one of the steam vavles and water poured out of the radiator. I knew there shouldn't be any water in the radiators. I called my plumber he came over and shut the system down and bled the water out. He will be back tomorrow to fix it.

Thanks again.

Vicki