cold radiator

T_2

Hi, I have a one pipe steam system, with two loops one short one by the boiler and one longerloop around the basement that feeds the rest. Near the end of the loop there are 3 seperate runs in this order 1st floor bedroom, 2nd floor bedroom and then the last one is a 1st floor bedroom. the 2 1st floor bedrooms do not get that hot the radiator will get warm but it seems like the system shuts down before these two have a chance to get really hot. The liner going to the 2nds floor bedroom heats up that radiator great. I have replaced air vents on all units and also the main in the basement gorton #1. The only thing I can think of is that the thermostat in the dining room gets to the desired temp before the 1st floor bedroom get a chance to heat up. Any suggestions as to the Cause/ Solution. Is it the Thermostat or another problem? Thanks.

mel rowe

I'm just a homeowner, but here's some thoughts that you might get started on while waiting on some of the steam experts to get to your message. With only a little info on your system, I would first do some rad vent adjusting or changing so that the dining room, nearest the stat, is the coolest room in the house. That way the system won't shut off too soon. After that I would also do some balancing of the three mentioned bedroom vents so that the rads there heat up more uniformly. What kind of rad vents do you have?

T_2

Hey Mel,
Thanks What is the best way to slow down the Rad in the dining room? The vents not sure of just went to lowes and bought what looked like the old ones.

mel rowe

Glad to help any way I can, as a return for all the help I've gotten here. If you need a really slow, but steady vent, I've read in TLAOSH that a Hoffman #40 will do the job. But on the other hand, you don't want to throttle your system, either. Venting is somewhat trial and error, until you get it right. So you might want to start with the last, slowest rads to heat and put the fastest vents there, and then back off on the venting rate (by using slower vents) until the dining room is the slowest to heat. There is a listing in Dole's site that compares steam, non-vacuum vents. http://www.invensysappliance.com/linkedElements/DoleAirValves.pdf Wallies seem to like Gorton and Hoffman vents best. If you need a source that is reasonable, I have found Pex Supply to be very good. I'd also suggest that you take a look at your main(s) and determine the pipe size and length to determine if you have adequate venting. As a rough rule of thumb, it seems that for every 20 feet of 2 in. pipe, you need a Gorton No. 1. If you need more than two you might as well get a Gorton No. 2. They are the best. A no. 2 vents 4 times as fast as a no. 1,and about 4 times faster than a Hoffman 75. You need to vent the main(s) completely and quickly and before steam starts flowing to the rads, in order to help even out the system.

Steamhead (in transit)

T, you need to measure

the length and diameter of your steam mains. Then we'll know of they are properly vented. I wouldn't mess with any of the rad vents until this is done.

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T_2

Hey Mel,
One of the vents in the cold bedroom is a #5 is that good or bad. And yes the dining room rad does throw off alot of heat making that room alot warmer than the rest of the house except the upstairs which gets toasty anyway.

Dean_7

vents

I'm a homeowner with a steam system too and steamhead is the professional who knows what he is talking about. LISTEN to him, DO what he says and he will tell you EXACTLY what you need. While your at it buy Dan's books on steam.

T_2

Steamhead,
Thanks I'll measure everything out and get back to you.

T_2

Ok the pipes split off into two seperate loops from the one main off the boiler. The first loop is in the boiler room itself 32 feet outside diameter of black pipe is 3 1/2". The second loop goes around the rest of the basement (and is the one with the two colder radiators) the loop is 45' and outside diameter of black pipe is 2 1/2". Both have 1 gorton #1 as the main vent.
The radiators in the cold bedroom do get hot but only the top half everything below the side vent stays cold.
The rad in the dining room where the thermostat is has an older oval looking vent with a screw on top.

T_2

Ok the pipes split off into two seperate loops from the one main off the boiler. The first loop is in the boiler room itself 32 feet outside diameter of black pipe is 3 1/2". The second loop goes around the rest of the basement (and is the one with the two colder radiators) the loop is 45' and outside diameter of black pipe is 2 1/2". Both have 1 gorton #1 as the main vent. The radiators in the cold bedroom do get hot but only the top half everything below the side vent stays cold. The rad in the dining room where the thermostat is has an older oval looking vent with a screw on top.