Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Turning off radiators

Jennifer_4
Jennifer_4 Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
Just moved into a house with oil/steam heat. We have our x-mas tree in the front window and want to stop heat flow to that radiator... is there any safe way to do this? Thanks!

Comments

  • Chuck Sorce
    Chuck Sorce Member Posts: 17
    Assuming it's still functional...

    You should have a hand valve on the radiator that you can close to turn off the radiator. Hopefully, it is still functional and not stuck in the "open" position.

    I have attached a picture of the valve. You will probably want to wait for the radiator to be cool. This not only makes it easier to work on, but should allow you to seat the valve better.

    Make sure you always keep this valve all the way open or all the way closed if you have a single pipe system. It's an on/off switch, not a throttle.
  • John Shea
    John Shea Member Posts: 247


    In case the valves are old and you are concerned with them sticking closed or open, you can turn your air vent upside down. The radiator certainly won't heat.

    You may need to take it off and put some teflon tape on the threads when you are ready to turn it back on.
  • paulk
    paulk Member Posts: 15
    What about...

    I have a similar question about my 3rd floor radiators. We hardly ever use the third floor and it gets awful warm up there anyway. Would shutting off those rads mess up the system?
    Thanks,
    Paul
  • .
    . Member Posts: 80


    As you see above, people have given instructions on how to turn off steam radiators. If doing this would "mess up the system", they would not have given these instructions, right?
  • paulk
    paulk Member Posts: 15
    I guess not

    I just wasn't sure if shutting off an entire floor would have a different effect on the system than just shutting off one rad as the initial poster had asked.
    -paul
  • John Shea
    John Shea Member Posts: 247
    curious rookie

    I am curious about this as well.

    That would make your boiler 'over-sized'. That could create a problem.

    What would the symptoms be, though?
  • Jennifer_4
    Jennifer_4 Member Posts: 2


    Thanks for your help! Unfortunately I can find no such valve on the radiators and think maybe it's under the floor? Could I do something with the rad key?
  • Mark Eatherton1
    Mark Eatherton1 Member Posts: 2,542
    If its one pipe steam...

    you could jury rig something to close off the air vent and it won't get nearly as hot as it would if the vent were open...

    ME
  • Chuck Sorce
    Chuck Sorce Member Posts: 17
    Could you post a picture of the radiator

    This board makes it pretty easy to upload a picture. If you have a digital camera you might want to post a picture of the whole radiator.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories