Cleaning out steam vents

Kevin_23

that they boiled their steam vents in a vinegar/water solution?

What do the pros think? Can this be done? I've already replaced all 13 of my steam vents and want to put an end to the $16/vent madness ($75 for the main)!

michael_15

> that they boiled their steam vents in a

> vinegar/water solution?

>

> What do the pros

> think? Can this be done? I've already replaced

> all 13 of my steam vents and want to put an end

> to the $16/vent madness ($75 for the main)!

michael_15

Sure you can

I'm not a pro, but I've heard from pros that you can. I've done it successfully with a few of my vents and it worked fine. The mild acidity of the vinegar helps dissolve away deposits. Of course, there is a chance your vent is just plain broken, too. You'll need to test it once you've cleaned it.

If they've all broken, however, perhaps that signifies a deeper problem.

-Michael

jesse the great

Kevin

You could also try to use some

Kevin_23

Thanks guys, my oldest vent is 3 years old. My steam main vent started hissing after being 5 months old. I lightly tap with a wrench on the pipe just below the main vent, and the hissing immediately stops. I think there is a piece of sediment in it.

I was considering boiling the main vent, along with 5 or 6 of my radiator vents to see if they would hiss less (or not at all). I have cleaned my system out quite a bit this winter and feel there has been some sediment find its way to the vents.

Thanks for the responses!