How long is a steam radiator supposed to stay on before cycling?

JimSavy · December 20

So recently, in my NYC apartment, there's been nights (sometimes full days) where the radiator just stays on for hours upon hours. Usually the cycle (as I understand it) is the steam comes on, the radiator pushes out all the cold air, vent closes, it gets hot for maybe 20 minutes (maybe half hour if it's really cold outside) then the vent opens, it lets in air and condenses. It cools down, about an hour later is starts back up again.

However, for some reason since I woke up this morning (with the room already steaming hot that I had to open the window) it's basically just been on for over 3 hours without ever letting in the air. I told my landlord that the boiler is not cycling, but he claims there's nothing wrong. It feels like not only is this unnecessary but using up a lot of unneeded energy.

My landlord seems to think it's just because it's really cold outside, but last time this happened, it was 50 degrees outside. I had my windows wide open and it was still blazing hot.

Is this normal or can a radiator just be on without cycling for hours upon hours?

Jamie Hall · December 20

A radiator — one pipe or two doesn't matter — will continue to make heat as long as the boiler stays on. It will only stop when the boiler stops

What happens on one pipe is that when the vent closes the air is out, but steam will keep coming in and condensing as long as the boiler runs. The only way you can stop it from heating is before the boiler starts — if you close the vent then, it simply won't heat up.

It would seem that your building's boiler is just staying on…

Perr_y32 · December 20

What you describe is not normal for a properly controlled steam system. A radiator should heat up, vent air, get hot for a short period, then shut off when the boiler cycles. Long continuous heat usually means the boiler is running too long, not that the radiator itself is doing something special.

If it stays hot for hours, common causes are a stuck or oversized main vent, a pressure control set too high, or a thermostat that never satisfies. Cold weather can extend run time, but not nonstop heat with windows open. You can test by closing the radiator valve fully and seeing if it still heats. If it does, the issue is at the boiler controls, not in your apartment.

JimSavy · December 20

Thank you - Glad to get some reassurance that there IS something wrong with the boiler.

EBEBRATT-Ed · December 20

Have them install an adjustable air vent which might give you some control.

May not be the fix though.

Landlords hate paying for service. Out of sight is out of mind. If he can't see the boiler from his house, he doesn't care.

How many apartments in this building? That will give us a clue how to approach this. Are other tenants complaining?

JimSavy · December 20

I think they just hire really cheap plumbers and maintenance workers who more often than not just look at it for two seconds and go "Eh there's nothing wrong with it." I've written a lot on this forum about so many other problems with the heat, they even replaced the boiler this year, but alas…

EBEBRATT-Ed · December 20

They are probably running too much pressure.

ARobertson13 · December 21

JimSavy, The problem that you have has to do with your boiler control unit [Controller]. You are and others are correct. This is not a proper operation of a steam system. Buildings that are under 6 units tend to use thermostats to control heat. Those mid 10 to 30 use some type of timed out door reset system. Larger, use more advanced automated controls. I would like to know how many units are in your building.

How long is a steam radiator supposed to stay on before cycling?

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