Radiator not heating

Concerned Apartment Owner

Thanks for reading. Great site you folks have. I'm enjoying learning. I do plan on calling a heating contractor for this. I live on the 25th floor of a 30 story building. Building has a low pressure/VariVac system. Radiator 1) Has Erie control valve in the manual on position and new steam trap. Control valve is hot but no steam going through it. Radiator 2) When the fan unit is turned on the side of the radiatro closest to the steam trap is cold. Radiator 3) works fine. I tell the Building Manager and they turn up the steam pressure in order for the two radiators to heat up. They complain it uses too much steam then turn it back down. My questions. 1)Even if a contol valve is hot why won't the radiator heat up? 2)Is it possible that there is air trapped in the radiator and is that good of an insulator? 3)Wouldn't reducing the pressure in the vacuum system solve this problem or should the pressure in the supply line be increased? 4)Should I just have the control valve removed and a straight piece of pipe installed? Thanks Everyone

will smith_4

The solution...

-Is rarely in the same room as the problem. Betcha there is a trap failed downline pressurrizing the return, causing you headaches.