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.

Not normal venting

TKPK
TKPK Member Posts: 73
edited 4:35AM in Strictly Steam

My daughter rents a 5th floor walk up in Kips Bay, manhattan. She has a one pipe steam system. There are five radiators in the apartment. The one in the main room is spitting and spewing a lot of black water. She is being told by the super that this is normal and they all do it.

I asked her to put a bowl under it and let it rip. I asked her to make sure the valve is fully open and the top of the vent is up before starting the collection.

This picture was taken after 3-4 hours. I know it’s not normal. Can I get some thumbs up from the esteemed experts. The water looks oily to me, certainly doesn’t look like it is rusty/iron oxide. I have a video but could not post it. When steaming it is 2-3 drops a second.

I told her to send the super the vid and if he doesn’t agree that it is not normal then we will look at next steps. I would just send her a new vent but that condensate looks pretty foul.

She does not have access to the boiler room.

IMG_1300.jpeg

Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,057

    Nope, not the way they all work. The system is probably running very high pressure and perhaps worse. Is the valve on this radiator fully open? It should be.

    It's incredibly hard to get building management to take this seriously

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 917

    A few ideas.

    1. I believe the vent should be near the top of the radiator, not a few inches above the bottom.
    2. The vent is likely no good. Replace it with a Gorton #5 and see if this helps.
    3. The steam pressure may be too high and the vent(s) are at risk of failure.
    4. The boiler water may be surging so bad that water is being carried to this radiator. This is probably not the cause as your daughter is on the fifth floor.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,057

    I agree with 2-4, but not #1!

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    TKPKdelcrossv
  • TKPK
    TKPK Member Posts: 73
    edited 3:24PM
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1837030#Comment_1837030
    1. Coolest part of a radiator that is heating up last is the lowest point opposite side from the steam entry. Plenty of good videos out there showing a radiator heating.
    2. I could have her replace the vent but it likely to get fouled in a few days given the looks of the water
    3. Don’t know…no access
    4. Don’t know but sure looks like the water or the pipes are contaminated. She for sure does not have dry steam coming to the radiator.

    even after seeing the vid the super said it is not an issue. I was trying to get my daughter to handle it but had enough so I called him myself. Got it all in writing and told him she was going to remove the water containment since it is not an issue.

    He sent a handyman up and he also said it is not a problem (but did replace the vent!) magically no more water spitting. Anyone want to bet on how long it will last?

    https://youtube.com/shorts/rj7Y9RVyXGg?si=0azi0hJjhFodjdOw

    ethicalpaul
  • TKPK
    TKPK Member Posts: 73
    https://youtube.com/shorts/rj7Y9RVyXGg?si=0azi0hJjhFodjdOw

    thanks Gordon! This radiator is connected along the bottom only.

  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,638
    edited 3:37PM

    I'll go with 3 as the most likely. And no, steam vents shouldn't be at the top of the rad.

    At this point the vent is probably toast as well.

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
    TKPK

Categories