Radiator problems

Steamhead

is short, you can safely ignore it when figuring main vent sizes. But it should be insulated.

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Dot_2

Radiator heat unevenly

Sometime ago I had posted on problems with the Glass Gauge receiving very good advice. I have since had the problem corrected along with replacement of a none functional Pressure Gauge.

Now in my hopes of correcting the last heating issue I am back for your input.

I have a 3 story home with two (2) of the floors with radiators. There are a total of 8 radiators half of which heat all the way through evenly. While the other 4 heat from 4 to 6 of the 10 section.

I tested this by turning the heat up on our last cool day. Since it was cool in the house I turned up the heat to 70 when the house temperature was 65. Then went to each of the radiators noting there status.

The Oil company that I deal with appears to do correct to the system as long as I can direct their sites. Now I am unsure what to do thus looking for additional help.

I have read many of the articles on this site but am confused as to where to go next. Most of the contractors found on this site are approx 35 miles away so I have to deal with my oil company not knowing where else to turn.

Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Dot

John@Reliable_4

Couple of things

Most problems with radiators are venting, quicker you vent air out faster steam gets in. In your case there may be nothing wrong. Why? 65 to 70 degrees on only a cool day may not let the system run long enough to heat all the way across before thermostat is happy and shuts off boiler which will stop steam from completly filling system. A better test will be on a colder day, using adjustable vents you would be able to fine tune it so all rooms are the same temp at the same time, regardless of how many tubes are hot on rad. remember you are only trying to replace the heat loss in the room. Hope this helps John@Reliable

Dot_2

additonal info

John thank you for the infomation.

But cool here is 35 degrees. Last night I left the thermostat at 66 but this morning the temperature was 61 on the thermostat. I thought that by setting the thermostat to 66 would cause a call for heat if the tempuratue dropped below 66.

I will also look at the vents to see how that are set. Again thanks

Steamhead

and

are the slow radiators further away from the boiler than the hot ones?

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Dot_2

Two

of the four are on the first floor while the others are on the second.

Steamhead

But

where are they in relation to the boiler? Are the take-offs for these slow radiators toward the ends of the steam mains? If they are, you may have missing, undersized or bad vents on the steam mains.

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Dot_2

Yes

they are at the end of the main. One is at the very end of one site of the T. While the other two are at the other end with the very last radiator at there end working.

Looking at the ones that are having problems they are the ones which I replaced the vents. While the ones that work have the originals which do look bigger. So that is most likely the problem.

Thanks for the help but how do I find the correct vents?

Dot

Steamhead

Your problem

is the vents on the ends of the steam mains. They're either missing, too small or not working. This causes the radiators at the end of the main to not get steam as quickly as the ones closer to the boiler.

Measure the length and diameter (outside diameter is fine) of each main and we can tell you what vents you need.

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Dot_2

will do

that this evening. Again thanks you guys are great!

Dot_2

Main measurements


From the T left to the end of the main the distance is 25 ft.
From the T Right to the end of the main the distance is 18 ft.

The diameter of the main is 9 inches , it is covered so it was difficult to measure but I beleive I got it right.

Steamhead

9 inches?

was that the measurement from one side of the pipe to the other, or did you wrap the tape measure around the pipe? If the latter, you measured the circumference, and you probably have 2-1/2 -inch pipes.

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Dot_2

wrapped

the measuring tape around the pipe to get the measurement.

Steamhead

Ahh

You need to hold the tape beside the pipe, and measure from one edge to the other. Subtract 1/4-inch from this (thickness of pipe walls) and that's your pipe size.

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Dot_2

2 inches

Steamhead

Each of those mains

should have a Gorton #1 or Hoffman #75 vent near the end. If there are no vents, call a pro to have them installed (use the Find a Contractor page of this site) since this involves some special tools and techniques. If there are vents there, you still may need a pro since the old ones may be very difficult to remove!

Also, if you haven't already, get a copy of Dan's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" which is written for the owner as well as the contractor. Order your copy on the Books and More page of this site.

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Dot_2

Ok

I'll call the guy that did the last correction on the boiler. Thanks for the help.

Dot_2

Main Vent are currently

Dole #3B are they old?

Steamhead

Probably old

but definitely too small. Replace them and watch how much better the system works.

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asdfd

sfdsfs

Bite me.

Dot_2

sorry to be a bother but

when you say main. Do you mean the pipe that goes straight out not including the return pipe that has the main vents attached?

Also I will order that book which looks like will answer alot of of my questions.

Mrs Duncan

moving a Radiator from wall to wall

Hi any advise on moving a radiator to another wall would be grateful, We have central Heating and wish to move the rad from the bathroom to another wall, as we want to pull down the dividing wall between the toilet and bathroom, my hubby is not brilliant at DIY but he has a go, I would love a nice spacious bathroom buy christmas, but he has no idea how to move the rad! any tips would be appreciated. Thankyou very much !

Steamhead

You really need a pro

since a number of things figure into moving a radiator. This is ezpecially true on steam systems. Try the Find a Contractor page of this site to locate one near you. If you're in or near Baltimore, e-mail me!

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Audrey

radiator and the red light

Hi, I am new to this site, but I am glad I came across it.
With my husband away in Iraq and all the household fix-its have fallen to me. I need help -- the red light on my gas boiler comes on constantly and I have to manually turn the unit on for heat. I am wondering is it because there is a small baseboard heater, which is the first closest radiator to the unit and is letting off quite a bit of steam and hissing noices and is very old. Could this be the problem? Do I need to replace the baseboard. I had the boiler inspected for the winter and everything was fine, but since I turned it on this saturday I have had this problem. I don't have an automatic water feeder, but I don't think that is the problem since the glass is over the midpoint during the boiler shut off. Any advice. Thank you.

Audrey

radiator and the red light

Hi, I am new to this site, but I am glad I came across it.
With my husband away in Iraq and all the household fix-its have fallen to me. I need help -- the red light on my gas boiler comes on constantly and I have to manually turn the unit on for heat. I am wondering is it because there is a small baseboard heater, which is the first closest radiator to the unit and is letting off quite a bit of steam and hissing noices and is very old. Could this be the problem? Do I need to replace the baseboard. I had the boiler inspected for the winter and everything was fine, but since I turned it on this saturday I have had this problem. I don't have an automatic water feeder, but I don't think that is the problem since the glass is over the midpoint during the boiler shut off. Any advice. Thank you.

Bryan_5

Audrey,
Welcome to the Wall. You will probably get a faster response if you post your question in a new thread.
Bryan

Dot_2

dry return

The dry returns are the same length as the Mains...

From the T left to the end of the main the distance is 25 ft. From the T Right to the end of the main the distance is 18 ft.
The dry returns are the same length they loop back to the boiler at a distance of 25 ft and 18 ft.

Since I have someone coming out tomorrow would the dry returns I have change the Main air vent numbers drastically?

Steamhead

The same vent sizes

should work OK. It will just take a bit longer for steam to reach them and make them close, at which time the steam will start rising into the radiator takeoffs.

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K,bull

Newer wood fired boiler systems

The pump on our boiler system just quit working. We are not able to replace it right now. Lack of moola. Is it possible to remove the pump and let the system flow by itself? I have heard that hot water chases cold. TIA

Dot_2

For those of you who maybe search as I did on how to resolve this issue thought I would update this thread.

After having the new Main Air Vents (Gorton #1 or Hoffman #75 vent) install all of the radiators all heat evenly. I would like to thank Steam head for the assistance in correcting this problem.

Hope this help the next person to solve their problem with uneven radiator heating.

Thanks to every that proviced input to resolve the problem.