help!

dave_113

hello
i live in an apartment that has old steam radiators,4 in total. the ones in the bedroom and living room work fine,but the one in the bathroom and kitchen won't heat up. i hear the vents hissing in all of them. i've figured out how to adjust the vents to open and close. the 2 radiators that aren't working have 2 adjustment handles on the ,while the ones that work only have 1 adjustment handle on them,does this have something to do with the problem i'm having? thanks in advance

Mike L

Cold rads

> hello i live in an apartment that has old steam

> radiators,4 in total. the ones in the bedroom and

> living room work fine,but the one in the bathroom

> and kitchen won't heat up. i hear the vents

> hissing in all of them. i've figured out how to

> adjust the vents to open and close. the 2

> radiators that aren't working have 2 adjustment

> handles on the ,while the ones that work only

> have 1 adjustment handle on them,does this have

> something to do with the problem i'm having?

> thanks in advance

Mike L

Cold rads

Are the supply valves to the radiators all the way open? I can't recall any vents that have two handles on them so i'm not sure what you are talking about there but if the valves are wide open then you might need new vents

dave_113

yes, the supply valves next to the radiators are open all the way. 3 of the radiators have 2, 1 of the radiators have 1. the valves hiss if i open them. i can get two of the radiators to work,while the other two are cold,then if i toy around a bit i can get the other two to work but the first two go cold. what are the supply valves and vents on the radiators for? probably a stupid question but i just don't know. if i close the supply valve down half way does that build up pressure to send the heat to the two cold radiators? and what about the vents? if i close them down will that build up pressure to send the heat further down the line? i'm a carpenter,not a heating guy. any input/help is greatly appreciated

Mike L

valves and vents

The valves let the steam in or keep it out depending on wether it's open or closed(fully,only,in either direction),the vents let air out when the steam enters the radiator,so yes if you close one valve the steam will move on to the next available space.Sounds to me like you have a mixed system,one and two pipe and maybe someone replaced traps with valves?to isolate or something?I'll have to think about this awhile.

dave_113

thanks again! have a great day! your help is very much appreciated!

so if i open one of the little vents on the side of the radiator that will draw steam to that radiator? and if i close one of those little vents that will send the steam to the next one? sorry for being so ignorant. if you need any carpentry questions answered let me know.

denny_2

pot burners

my gravity fed pot burner w/carb. is burning with a yellow flame on the bottom of the tank. i thought the perferated holes are to burn with a blue flame.nothing comes out of these holes which is between the two rings,also the inside of the stove is soot covered any help would be appreciated.