Radiator leaks in a hot water heating system

Judy

Does the water stay in the radiator of a hot water system when the heat is off? The heat is off and a second floor radiator starting leaking at the turn off valve. After the valve has been fixed how do I "balance" the system, I already have problems in 2 other area not getting heat, one a first floor baseboard and the other an attic radiator. I am not opposed to calling a plumber but I want to know what is happening.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Yes, the water ordinarily stays in the system--the longer the better because fresh water has lots of oxygen--oxygen that must make its way out of the system and that also causes corrosion.

When you have a leak, the water has to come from somewhere--the system--and something has to replace it--air from the atmosphere.

You've most likely lost a fair amount of water and there's no longer enough to fill the system all the way to the attic. Baseboards (particularly when installed into an old iron system) are notorious for having "air problems"--often because the piping is arranged in a way that traps air pockets that stop circulation.

It's really difficult to say how to remove the air from your system without being there. Hopefully your plumber (try to find one who works with hot water heating systems regularly--or perhaps someone who works only with wet heating systems) will be kind and show you how to properly fill and/or drain your particular system.

Steamhead

Baseboard and radiators

are normally not compatible, especially if fin-tube baseboard is installed in an old gravity system. The baseboard requires higher water temperatures- at least 180 degrees- to operate, while radiators are perfectly happy at less than 150 degrees or so.

You need the help of a real heating pro to solve this problem. Try the Find a Professional page of this site. If you're in the Baltimore area, e-mail me!

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Uni R

Huh?

My 25 year old fin tube baseboards never saw more than 140°F this whole frigid winter. It's not about the temps they need, it's about how quickly they warm up and cool down vis-à-vis traditional rads, although constant circulation can help offset the difference. That's what causes the balancing problems.

Steamhead

But are yours pasted onto an old radiator system?

We see this phenomenon all the time and routinely rip that stuff out and put radiators back in. Kitchen remodelers are especially bad in this area- "sure, 5 feet or so of this baseboard is plenty!" and the HO wonders why there's no heat in the kitchen when the weather gets cold. Forget cooling off faster- they never get hot to begin with.

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