Radiator vents, maintaining and/or replacing ... We've got a o.

Bob Bonthius

We've got a one-pipe steam system in our old house. When we moved in 5 years ago I installed new Hoffman 40 vents in all the radiators, and a new Hoffman (80?--green, about the size of a can-o-soup) main vent. I bought them at the steam heating supply house. The old (not yet dead) guy behind the counter advised me that there's nothing I need to do to maintain the vents but that I should "just replace 'em every 5 years because they go bad." They all still seem to work nicely; all radiators still heat and I can hear all vents venting. Questions: (1) He was a nice guy but was it good advice? (2) Should I do anything to maintain them at the start of end or the heating season like emptying them, poking a pin in the vent hole, rattling them, boiling them, etc.? (3) Is there a rule of thumb for replacing them or do I simply replace as needed? (4) Etc.?