Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

One steam radiator won't heat

Options
Nick_29
Nick_29 Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL
Hey guys,

I rent a 300 year old house with a one pipe steam system. A couple of months ago I accidentally left the fill valve on the boiler open just a little and ended up with water shooting out of the radiators. It seems that since then one of the radiators is now leaking steam and water from the feed pipe (seems to be around the threads, definitely not from the valve though) and only the first fin on the radiator gets hot...the next 2-3 are slightly warm and after that the rest are cold. Nothing is coming out of the vent. I was going to try and replace the vent, as that seems to be the easiest thing. After I flooded the system I noticed a lot of "brown muck" in the sight glass on the boiler. I am assuming I probably stirred it up and washed some out of the radiators. It has been clearing up over time.

My question is what are the odds that a new valve will fix the problem? I am guessing my next step would be to unhook the radiator and flush it out? I am thinking that maybe it is clogged and that is why is is leaking at the inlet pipe? I don't really want to try this. I am pretty handy, but with the system being so old I was hoping I wouldn't have to do anything major. I did tell my landlord about it and she said "there's not much we can do about that!" Real nice huh.

One more quick question...the steam valves on the radiators are not supposed to let a lot of steam out...correct? I have one radiator that constantally hisses and expels steam. Probably just a bad valve...right?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Comments

  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Flush the line out

    with a hose. If there is a drain on the return before it enters the boiler, open it so the muck won't get into the boiler.

    Replace the leaky air vent too.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Nick_29
    Nick_29 Member Posts: 3


    How would I go about flushing it? Do I have to disconnect the radiator from the piping and stick a hose down it? I noticed that my radiators have caps on the sides...one on the top and one on the bottom...could I remove on of those and stick the hose through it?

    Thanks again in advance.
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    You'll never get those plugs (\"caps\") out

    disconnect the rad and flush the line with a hose.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Nick_29
    Nick_29 Member Posts: 3


    OK...hopefully this will be my last question before I attempt to disconnect the radiator. What should I expect? Will it be really stuck on or will it come apart fairly easy? Also...anything special I need to do when putting it back together, such as thread tape or anything like that?

    Again...Thanks for the help.
  • jan_3
    jan_3 Member Posts: 2
    Radiator won't heat up

    I have one radiator in my 1 pipe system that doesn't heat. I have replaced the air vent and checked the radiators slope. I noticed it is pitched a lot toward the pipe, the bubble in the level goes all the way to the end. What do I do to remedy this problem? Thanks
This discussion has been closed.

Categories