Trouble Shooting a Steam Radiator

Frank M. Tricarico

I have a low pressure steam system. One radiator (located in a bay type area - extends over the first floor porch)does not work.

I pulled off the steam trap and found no cage unit. There was some slight ice crystals. I thought that maybe the steam pipe was frozen but now with warmer weather - it still is not working.

What would be the best way to see if this radiator is hooked up?

Thanks

Jamie Hall

eh?

seems to me that if there were no innards to the trap, and the radiator isn't working, it must be either shut off or cut off somewhere else... trace the inlet side pipe (the inlet valve is on, isn't it?) back to a main which you know gets hot. If it doesn't trace, or if there is a closed valve on it, there you are. It also seems to me that if the trap has no innards, and steam could get to the radiator, it could go right on through and perhaps cause poor heat or no heat elsewhere, by pressurizing the dry return?

Steamhead

Unless

the dry return was already pressurized, and the problem radiator is so far from the boiler that the pressure equalizes before steam can reach it.

Check to see if there is any steam in the dry return. If so, correct the problem and see if the radiator heats now.

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Frank M. Tricarico

Thanks guys. It's impossible to see the steam supply line except in the basement and where it enters the room. I had one idea. I removed the carpet around the radiator and found where some one took out some board on the drain side. My guess is that the drain froze and they went in and sealed it off. If that the case then even with the valve wide open - steam would not flow up and into the radiator. What do you think before I start removing hard wood floors?

Jamie Hall

plausible...

it's the kind of thing that does happen... let me think on this overnight and see if there might be a way to check it without opening up a perfectly good floor... like maybe figuring out how to get a little air pressure on the return which might be blocked somehow. Shouldn't hold pressure if the pipe isn't blocked...

I'll think about it.

Steamhead

Frank, before you rip into the floor

check to see if there is any steam in the dry return line. Also check to see that the vent on the dry return is working.

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Frank M. Tricarico

This weekend While the boiler was operating I open the steam trap cover. There was definitely some air moving into the open trap - probably being sucked along with the normal drains.

I think the problem must be in the steam supply line. The valve turns freely and even with the trap open there is no steam.

I have another disconnected radiator and if I open the valve steam comes out.

With the welded steam connection off the main in the basement I have no way of knowing what's going on as the steam line travels in the wall to the radiator. This line may be a direct feed since no other radiators are below or above it. The probable associated drain line is cold when the system is operating.

Any chance the valve is broken in the closed position? I don't want to open it while the heating is needed.

Thanks