cold radiator caused by a clog?

Andy Meyer

I have a radiator in a one pipe system that is staying completely cold. Even the piping just prior to the shut-off valve remains stone cold. If the vent were pluged, or the shut-off valve were clogged, wouldn't I feel some heat in the piping just prior to the shut-off valve? I'm thinking that maybe there is a clog prior to all this after the line splits from the main line in the basement. The steam has to go through two elbows to get the the shut-off valve.

Does this sound reasonable?

Joe_13

Plugged vent

could leave the whole line to the last branch air bound.

John@Reliable_4

Try this..............

take the vent off and see if it heats up, if the vent won't let the air out steam cannot move in, even the pipes will stay cold if far away from main. Clogged pipes above boiler can happen but not offen (once in the last 13years for me that I can think of) Hope this helps John@Reliable

Andy Meyer

thanks for the help....

I guess it was just a bad vent. I thought that couldn't be it since the riser was cold too, but it was the farthest from the main.

Thanks Oilman!

hot_rod

vlv

Take the inlet valve apart & you may well find the washer + cup have separated from the stem, resulting in the assembly resting on the valve seat = no heat in rad.

The vent removal and subsequent raising of the pressure setting can lead to hearing a gurgle as steam passes through a wet area. Look to the basement offset from the main - often we'll see that horizontal branch lying with the wrong pitch - leads to the end being full of water.

Last rad on a main? Check the wet return (if present) for being partially clogged & condensate rising up into that last portion of steam main.

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