Turning off a steam radiator

Howard Emerson

Hello,
The phone just rang at 6:45am and it was our daughter calling from her Brooklyn apartment..........I guess she knows I've been up since 5:00am or she's looking at the IM screen on the computer........

Anyway she's flipping out because the heat, which has been non-existant, is now coming on and banging a lot........

How does one turn off a cast iron radiator? The knob feels like it just keeps turning and turning with no end in sight......

Thanks for any information!

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!

Howard

Charles G.

Steam radiator

The easiest way would be to call the super and say, "Please come and turn off this radiator." And that maybe her only recourse, since it sounds like the valve or at least the knob is stripped. If that doesn't work, removing the air vent (one pipe system?) and installing a plug will do the trick, but only after the heat is OFF.

Barbarossa

noise / heat?

Is it the noise of the fact she has too much heat from the unit. The noise may be a result of the valve being partialy closed. I like the "ask the super to make the valve work' plan first.

Howard Emerson

Hi Charles,
Thanks for getting back to me!

The problem in a nutshell is that the owner of the building does everything half-**** and on a 'pressure schedule': You pressure her by threatening, and she'll get something done, minimally, to appease........

There was no heat in the building a few weeks ago when it was needed, so the kids complained. So the owner drops off electric heaters..........Catch my drift?

Sometimes there's hot water and no heat, sometimes neither......

Calling the 'super'(who the hell knows where he lives....not in the building for sure!) really isn't what they want to have to do.

And after complaining about there being no heat, then having it? What do you think the owner will say to "I want my radiator turned off"?

The correct fix will NEVER HAPPEN with this landlady.

I just wanted to know if there was a quick way for my daughter to address the noisy radiator herself, depending on how noisy it is or isn't........

I appreciate the responses in any case, but the best thing about this situation is our daughter's learning curve being expanded as it relates to her next apartment and what to look for and ask about!!!

Best,
Howard