VENTING STEAM RADIATORS

IZZY

I've been reading Dan's "Lost Art of Steam Heating" (13th printing). On page 107 there is a diagram of a radiator with steam coming in, and pushing the air out of the air valve. I thought this was a nice and clear picture of what goes on in the radiator. However, since I've been reading this book, I've been taking greater notice of steam systems all around me. The sections of standard "column" radiators seem to connect only at the bottoms. If this is correct, why wouldn't each individual section need its own air vent? Thanks for any insight.

Steamhead

Because

the steam will rise to the top of each section, displacing the air downward and toward the vent. This type of radiator heats from side to side rather than from the top down.

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