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Radiator Valves

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rhw1
rhw1 Member Posts: 32
in Strictly Steam
Should the valves in a one pipe system have some accumulation of water? If so does the water need to be emptied periodically? Thanks.

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  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
    edited January 2021
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    Just clarifying do you indeed mean "valve" or do you mean "air vent"? Anyway, the answer is the same: there will always be some water. And No, if they are properly operating and oriented, there is never a need to empty them.

    But to help you, why are you asking?
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • LS123
    LS123 Member Posts: 466
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    @rhw1 are you referring to the supply line (those are the main pipes mostly in the basement sending steam to radiators) having water accumulated or return line (brings the condensate / water once radiators cool down) and a having water? ... like @ethicalpaul asked r u referring to a valve or air vent (there are main air vents on supply line and radiator air vents on each steam radiator)? can you clarify.. if not sure post a pic of it... thanks and best!
    Thank you!
    @LS123
  • rhw1
    rhw1 Member Posts: 32
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    It is the air vent on the end of the radiator. After raising one of my radiators over a period of time (1/4 to 1/2" at a time ) and making sure it slopes back to the valve the thing still has an annoying set of loud ticks while heating up. Someone here suggested putting on a slower vent. So when changing out the air vent some water came out and I wondered if that may have been the problem. Obviously not.
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    Ahh gotcha. It was probably OK. it kept ticking after raising it, eh?
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • rhw1
    rhw1 Member Posts: 32
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    Although it is a radiator farthest from the boiler, in a colder room,should I now try a slower vent? I think that's my last hope?
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    Can’t hurt to try
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,323
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    If the radiator is ticking, that's expansion, not hammering. It may be the radiator, it may be the pipes. Changing vents won't help -- but making sure that the radiator and pipes can expand freely will.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    LS123ethicalpaul
  • rhw1
    rhw1 Member Posts: 32
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    "but making sure that the radiator and pipes can expand freely will"...... and how do you do that?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,323
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    On the pipes -- look at where they come through the floor, or where they are supported or run through joists -- if you can get there! -- andparticularly where they come through the floor, make sure they don't touch or, if they do, slip a piece of slippery plastic -- such as a piece cut from a polyethylene milk jug -- in there. On the radiator itself, I've had some success (not always -- no guarantee) with slipping similar pieces under the feet of the radiator, so it can slide more easily.

    Doesn't always work...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    LS123ethicalpaul

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