Banging Riser

John Kim

Unfortunately, I'm an owner in this Coop. It's a small building, and so we all try to pitch in when it comes to solving the problems. I'm wondering if there's someone out there who is an expert (or knows one) that they'd highly recommend.

John Kim

Sleepless due to banging riser

Hey There,
So i just moved into a new pre-war apartment. My old apartment was also pre-war, and so i'm used to some amount of banging in the morning when the system comes on. However, this one starts with a relatively low-pitch (but VERY Annoying) hammering sound at around 5 AM that goes on and on and on (until about 7 AM). In addition, there are those very loud and sudden series of BANGS! every 15-20 minutes in the morning as well that make it seem like someone is taking a sledgehammer to the pipers. Any thoughts on what I can do, and who i can contact to fix this? I really need some sleep...

bob young

problem solver

first call the building manager and report the problem. if that gets no response instead of paying your rent next month send a registered letter stating the complaint & situation. when you hold back rent it usually gets results unless of course you are a deadbeat , then you get evicted . . if the complaint is legitimate this could solve it.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Presuming this is a one-pipe system, make certain that radiator valves are either fully open or fully closed.

A partially closed valve will allow water to back up.

Here's the likely cause of your hell's symphony each morning.

1) Temp has been set back at night.

2) System comes on in the morning when everything is stone cold.

3) The steam condenses in the radiators (and piping) very rapidly.

4) Somewhere the condensate is not flowing back to the boiler fast enough (or at all)--could be gunk accumulated in a radiator near the valve connection; improper pipe or radiator pitch;
a partially closed hand valve. (I'm sure there are other possibilities as well, but these are common.)

5) When the fast-moving steam hits a pipe full or nearly full of water it forces its way past with a bang. As more and more steam forces its way through more condensate is produced--this only increases the water blockage if it cannot drain properly and the noises build, the pipes shake and you'd swear the system will tear itself apart...

If you can't find a simple cause of the problem, have you checked "Find a Contractor" at this site? You can be quite certain that anyone here claiming to be good with steam is good with steam.