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At my whit's end with banging pipes, squirting vents and No heat! Please help!

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JimSavy
JimSavy Member Posts: 31
in Strictly Steam

I live in an old New York apartment. Since I moved in 4 years ago, the banging pipes have been an ongoing problem every year. It has now gotten to the point where tonight (Thanksgiving night) the water hammer is so loud and so incessant, it sounds like a construction project. They sound like washing machines because they're so full of water that the air vents to my radiators (both of them) sometimes squirt out water. But the worst part is when this happens, the heat doesn't come on. I'm writing this at 3AM and it's so cold, even after the pipes have been banging for half an hour.

And this is AFTER the landlords replaced the boiler this summer! Apparently they didn't clean it properly or something, I dunno getting information out of my landlords isn't so easy.

The one reprieve I get is that when I call them, they'll send someone over to drain the system and "Treat it" whatever that means (some kind of oil them put in it). Usually that gives the pipes a good 2 weeks of somewhat normalcy, but they just did this last Saturday (when I had to call the landlord's emergency number at home).

I just don't know what to do at this point. I can't live like this. I can tell they're at least trying to fix it, but it just feels like a much bigger problem they're putting a band-aid on when it probably requires a big expensive assessment to take care of the problem. I've even chatted with some experts here and forwarded their information to my landlord, but he says "I don't need someone else to tell me what's wrong with my boiler."

I've gotten some help on here in the past, but figured it was time to come back for some advice. Any advice or help is appreciated.

Radiator 1 2025.png Radiator 2 2025.png

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,502
    edited November 28

    the near boiler piping needs to be correct.

    the new boiler and new pipes will have oil in them which will float on the surface of the water in the boiler. this will interfere with the steam erupting from the surface of the water and cause the steam to erupt violently and throw liquid water in to the steam mains. this is likely the banging and the water squirting out of your vents.

    the fix is to skim the boiler. it has to be done by slowly floating the surface of the water that contains the oil out of the tapping that the manufacturer specifies that will be near the top of the boiler. it usually has to be done a few times to get all of the oil out.

    detergents and other additives aren't a substitute for skimming although they can make it more effective

    draining won't remove the oil. the oil will cling to the sides of the boiler as the water level falls and just float right back on to the surface of the new water.

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,381

    I'm sorry for your aggravation. Instead of sending the same hapless crew back over and over, your landlord needs to pay a Professional Steam expert to come in and evaluate the causes and provide solutions. The Find a Contractor feature on this site is where they can be found. Good Luck. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    Ironmanbovide_7WaherJimSavy
  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 866

    "I've even chatted with some experts here and forwarded their information to my landlord, but he says "I don't need someone else to tell me what's wrong with my boiler."

    It aggravates me to no end when people (your landlord) aren't willing or are too stubborn to listen to free knowledgeable advice. Whether they take it or not is their own decision but to not listen is the definition of ignorance.

    JimSavy
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,491
    edited November 28

    Unfortunately, it sound like a losing proposition for you. Your landlord refuses to admit he has a problem and refuses to do anything about it.

    I would love to see pictures of this installation.

    I will bet it is a real Clown Show.

    I suppose you could call the board of health if the building is not heating but I am sure the landlord wouldn't like that.

    What do the other tenants say?

    Need to follow @maddog advise.

    Unfortunately, nothing you can fix from your apartment

    IronmanJimSavy
  • patrykrebisz
    patrykrebisz Member Posts: 52

    in NYC, call 311 and report no heat. the landlord will get 24h to fix the violation.

    how many units are in this apt building?

    do you have access to the basement to snap a photo of the boiler install? if so, post the photos and many knowledgable people will give your landlord a "free" advice.

    long story short: water is not draining from the pipes and prevents steam to get to the radiators. it could be caused by "wet steam" due to bad header install; too high pressure; uninsulated pipes, badly pitched pipes; lack of proper venting -- just to name a few.

    Ironmanmattmia2CLambJimSavy
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,502

    it is very unlikely that the issue is that it "isn't draining", especially if it worked with the old boiler. it is far more likely that liquid water is being thrown in to the piping by the new boiler because the oil from the new boiler and piping hasn't been skimmed off properly or the new piping isn't correct or both.

    ethicalpaulJimSavy
  • JimSavy
    JimSavy Member Posts: 31
    edited December 1

    Thank you all for the comments! So they did temporarily fix the pipes Friday morning, but we'll see how long that lasts. I did narrow it down slightly. Thursday night (or rather early Friday morning like 2am) the pipes were banging and weren't heating. However, down in the hallway by the front building entrance (my apartment is a floor up at the back of the building) there's a radiator that seemed to be heating up just fine. However, I could hear some serious banging in my downstairs neighbors' place even outside of his door! So It seems to me that whatever pipe is going up the units in the back of the building, or whatever's connected to it, is the culprit. I'm gonna mention it to them, but yes it would be nice if they brought in some professionals.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,502

    The location is probably a symptom rather than a cause. The cause is probably that the boiler is throwing liquid water in to the mains and that pipe is where it is collecting.

  • Steve_175
    Steve_175 Member Posts: 242

    In addition to all the great advice given, check if:

    1. Are all the pipes in the basement insulated.
    2. Are there vents at the end of the pipes in the basement and are they functioning properly and big enough.
    3. Tell the landlord that if the system is dialed in by a steam pro it will all but eliminate the number of complaints he gets and save him money on his heating bill.

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