How can I tell if I have a leaky pipe in my steam system?

Chris_35

How do you know if you are losing water because of a leak in a pipe somewhere in a one-pipe steam heating system?
If some of the pipes run under the house where you can't see them is there another way to detect minor (or major) leaks without actually being able to see it?
Also, does anyone know where I can buy radiator vents for steam rads in the Toronto area?
The ones I have now say 'FLAIR No. 51' on them.
Thanks in advance.

The Kid

losing water?

Do you manually refill your boiler or is it done with an automatic feeder. you should add a metering device to find out exactly how much water you are putting into the boiler and take a month to month reading. Most boiler manufactures have recomended maximum allowences for water being added to there boilers, based on ther size.Take into consideration that main vents and radiator vents if not working properly will allow steam to escape and you will lose water that way as well.

gehring

Also, make sure that all of your radiator valves are either all the way open or completely closed - nothing in between. I once thought I was loosing water only to find someone had tried to partially close a radiator valve. The steam could get in, but the water could not get back out. The result was the the water level in the boiler dropped as if I had a leak.