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radiant radiator with no vents?

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AlexR
AlexR Member Posts: 61
in Strictly Steam
Our house has a radiant radiator in the bathroom, but it appears that there are no vents on it.  It's part of the one pipe steam system (I think radiators and piping are original from 1915, the boiler was installed last year just before we bought).  It has the tappings as described in the Burnham docs (<a href="http://www.burnham.com/products/baseboard-radiators/radiant">http://www.burnham.com/products/baseboard-radiators/radiant</a>).  When the system's on, I can hear the radiator hiss and it does get hot.  Is there some hidden vent or is the steam just forcing its way in?



I tried removing one of the vent taps last night, but it's stuck (rusted shut?).  Any tricks to try to get it out if I'm going to install a vent?

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,284
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    Steam can't

    force it's way in unless the condensate and air can find an easy way out.  Before trying to take that tap out (and possibly breaking something -- but try either 3 in 1 or WD-40 on it) see if you can figure out why it's working -- after all, if it's working, why fix it?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited October 2009
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    Radiator vent?

    This might sound a bit dumb.....but the first question that comes to my mind - If it gets hot why mess with it?   

    With no vent I'm not quite sure why it is getting hot.....maybe a leak in the radiator that lets the air out? Any idea where the hissing is coming from?



    Loosening the plug. - You'll probably have to move the radiator so  you can work on it.

    You can try penetrating oil first, if that doesn't work heating the plug.  if that doesn't work heating it and applying a candle (the wax is sucked into the threads and if all else fails drilling it out (being careful not to harm the threads)   With winter coming on I'd put it on the list of things to do next summer  Again the thought comes to mind "if it ain't broke don't fix it!"

    Edit : LOL- I didn't see Jamie's post before mine when up - "Great  minds think alike!"

    - Rod
  • AlexR
    AlexR Member Posts: 61
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    it heats, but slowly

    It heats, but it heats much more slowly than the other radiators.  The real question was whether it had something special going on.  But since it doesn't, I'll put messing with the rusted tap screws at the bottom of my todo list and not worry about it.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    That radiator might have

    an "In-Airid" vent. From the outside it looks like a 1-1/2" pipe plug, but the vent is recessed inside. If the hissing sounds like it's coming from a plug, it's an In-Airid.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Paul Fredricks_3
    Paul Fredricks_3 Member Posts: 1,557
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    Wow

    That's a new one on me. Here's a link I found



    http://www.gwgillplumbingandheating.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=498&referer=www.clickfind.com.au
  • AlexR
    AlexR Member Posts: 61
    edited December 2009
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    someone needed to read Dan's books

    Since it was warm for most of November here, I decided to ignore the good advice I got an drill out the rusted plug to install a vent.  Turned out fine and now the radiator heats lickity-split.  But it still hissed.



    Since it sounded like the hissing was coming from the pipe side (it's a one pipe radiator) and back in the wall, I cut a thin (1/8") slice of drywall along the edge of the radiator to see if I could find the leak.  Along the way, I hit something hard.  It wasn't a drywall screw.



    It looks like someone put a hot water air bleed vent on the radiator and then sealed it up in the wall. 
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    That's

    a hygroscopic vent, designed primarily for hot-water but sometimes it works on steam. I'd remove it and plug the hole, and use the one you installed. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • blahblahblah
    blahblahblah Member Posts: 1
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    What kind of Radiator is that?

    I have the same ones.  I ike them a lot and I want to restore them.  Does anyone know any info about them or the best way to restore them?  What are they called?  Who made them?  My house was built in 1955 in NY.



    Thanks!
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    edited June 2013
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    Burnham Radiant Radiator

    It's a Burnham Radiant Radiator, but there are several other models made by other manufacturers (e.g. American Sunrad), so see if you can find a name on it to be sure.



    Burnham radiators are sold by US Boiler: http://www.usboiler.net/products/baseboard/radiant/

    (not to be confused with US Boiler and Tube)



    What exactly do you mean by "restore"? What condition are they in and what would you like to do to them?



    You might want to start a new thread and post some pictures of your radiators. We like pictures.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
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    Double wow.

    I guess it's not a new one on Gerry Gill.



    It would be fun to have a contest to see if anybody can find one thing about steam heating out there that none of our pros know about.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
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