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Vent-Rite No. 1 Tongue Orientation

bwroga
bwroga Member Posts: 44
edited October 2022 in Strictly Steam
I recently replaced the Vent-Rite No. 1 air valves on my radiators. I noticed that some of the little "tongues" sticking out of the valve stem were upside down when I removed the old valves. I'm hoping that the tongues on the new ones stayed in place when I installed them, but I can't be sure. Does it matter if the tongues are rotated?

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,632
    Yes, it does -- the tongue is supposed to let any moisture that collects move back into the radiator and drip inside.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • bwroga
    bwroga Member Posts: 44
    @Jamie Hall Can you give me any suggestions on how to keep the tongue from rotating? Thanks
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,632
    Once it's in place it should stay put... it might flop up and down, but it shouldn't be free to rotate... I think.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,132
    Most likely those tongues were incorrectly rotated by whoever installed them in the first place. They are not likely to rotate out of place by themselves.
    —
    Bburd
    nj88142
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,171
    The tongue probably got stuck on the corrosion in the radiator. there is not much clearance between the tongue and the threads of the radiator. corrosion forms past the threads of the air vent.
    ChrisJ
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,452
    The tongues on the vent-rites aren’t affixed, and often move. I would simply pull it out. I’d rather know there isn’t anything obstructing the condensate then be guessing. The tongue on the Hoffman is affixed so this isn’t an issue, but again, with the vent-rite it isn’t. 
  • random12345
    random12345 Member Posts: 500
    My experience with those vents is the gasket wears out from the small wheel at the bottom and water starts to leak out there. If the condensate now can't even drain out the way it's supposed to, they might fail sooner.
  • bwroga
    bwroga Member Posts: 44
    On some of the radiators, I could feel/hear the tongue scraping on the threads as I rotated it in. I tried to rotate as gently as I could to keep it from catching.
  • bwroga
    bwroga Member Posts: 44
    I'm not concerned with the tongues rotating once in. I'm worried that they are catching and being rotated as I screw the vent in.
  • bwroga
    bwroga Member Posts: 44
    Thanks everyone for your help.

    I think I figured out what was going on. There is a little slot in the back of the vent that the tongue fits into that keeps it from rotating. As long as the tongue is fitted in that slot, it can't rotate (much). When I removed the old vents, the tongue was getting caught on corrosion/threads and the vent kept moving backwards out of the hole, and the tongue was pulled out of the slot. Then the vent kept spinning as I unscrewed it but the tongue stayed where it was. I think that as long as the tongue is securely fitted in the slot and the vent is being screwed in and moving "forwards" the tongue will stay in the slot and not rotate.
    Waher
  • Marc_18
    Marc_18 Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2023
    Jamie Hall said:

    Yes, it does -- the tongue is supposed to let any moisture that collects move back into the radiator and drip inside.

    Why do the float type vents (Vent-Rite, Hoffman) include this tongue while the bimetallic vents (Gorton, et al) do not?
    ChrisJ
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,470
    Marc_18 said:

    Jamie Hall said:

    Yes, it does -- the tongue is supposed to let any moisture that collects move back into the radiator and drip inside.

    Why do the float type vents (Vent-Rite, Hoffman) include this tongue while the bimetallic vents (Gorton, et al) do not?
    I've wondered the same thing.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • nonices
    nonices Member Posts: 2

    I bought a new one and it didn't seem to work. I think the tongue keeps moving out of place each time.
    Do you think it would be crazy to try using it without the tongue? In other words; removing the tongue?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,821

    isn't the tongue just there to encourage any water that gets in it to run out, it really doesn't have anything to do with the function of the vent.

  • random12345
    random12345 Member Posts: 500
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1843278#Comment_1843278

    Sounds painful. 🤪

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,620

    Try bending the tongue up slightly, so it doesn't catch on the threads in the hole.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,648
    edited February 18

    The float type vents have a tongue to separate condensate removal from steam entry. Since they have much less clearance space in them than the Gorton vents, fluid cohesion and surface tension tends to hold the water in the vent.

    Gorton and other bi-metal element vents have a large clear area where condensate's greater collected weight and lack of tight clearances cause it to drop and drain from the vent.

    The feature is mentioned in the product's patent.

    bburd
  • nonices
    nonices Member Posts: 2

    I took off the (recent purchased) Vent-Rite air-vent.
    I set the dial to 5.
    I carefully screwed it back in place on the radiator.
    The next day, it maintained a 68 deg temperature.
    I prefer a 70 deg temperature for this room, so I raised the dial to 6.
    The next day, it maintained a 66 deg temperature.
    It’s supposed to get warmer.
    What would cause it to get colder?
    (My guess is its because of the stupid tongue moving out of place.)

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,470
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1843941#Comment_1843941

    What did the weather outside do and how did it effect boiler run times?

    You're using an adjustable vent not a TRV.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

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