Radiator vent issue

alanm · 12:25PM

Looking for potential remedies for "sounds" from some of my radiator vents. I have a one pipe steam system…when i turn the heat up, especially in the morning…some radiators sound like an airplane taking off…hissing noises..Not all the radiators…just a few. side note..it seems to be from the radiators that look like "hot water radiators" and not the steam radiators…house over 100 years old. suggestions? different type of vents (sizes?). Thanks Alan

ethicalpaul · 12:48PM

are all the noisy ones the same model of vent? Post a pic?

alanm · 12:51PM

no…i will send pictures

alanm · 12:51PM

alanm · 1:19PM

here is the one radiator….a bathroom ….i have a cover over it….so you can see the vent and the tough spot it is in…any suggestions

thanks

steam 1.jpg

steam 2.jpg

steam 3.jpg

geemalar · 2:00PM

I believe the experts here might bring up 2 points for starters, I'll let them verify that first………

The vent should not be at the top of the radiator, should be mid position of the radiator
The vent is not vertical, it's turned to a certain degree

ethicalpaul · 2:02PM

The location on the radiator isn't optimal, but is not affecting the sound.

But the rotation of them could be causing them to make noise. Rotate them to vertical like @geemalar said

alanm · 2:05PM

with that "bolt" there, i cannot screw in the vent to get it vertical……do i have to drill a hole lower and then plug that top hole?

alanm · 2:06PM

i am not an expert in Radiators…but the two that are doing that "noise" have a different design than the others in my house….are they hot water radiators? are they ok to use with one pipe steam system?

thanks

ethicalpaul · 2:07PM

Please show us a picture of the vent side of one of those radiators

ethicalpaul · 2:08PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1884423#Comment_1884423

If it's the pictured radiators you are talking about, they are fine for steam.

ethicalpaul · 2:14PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1884421#Comment_1884421

If your upcoming photo of the vent side of one of those radiators shows no other port, then you can put a short 1/8" nipple with a 1/8" coupler and extend the vent away from the radiator a bit.

But why can't you rotate them clockwise away from the bolt to get them vertical? I'm not understanding

dabrakeman · 2:16PM

Vent should be below the halfway point on the radiator but to sort out whether the orientation is an issue with the vent you could for a few bucks get a 1/8" npt nipple and coupling to extend the vent away from the radiator a bit.

ethicalpaul · 2:18PM

Also if it's just hissing (I confused your post with the "air horn noise" thread), then perhaps your main venting isn't working or is insufficient. You can try a different model of vent. If your boiler is oversized, some hissing may be unavoidable. Is this a single family home, or an apartment building?

alanm · 2:47PM

thanks…so a few follow up to questions:

so take a look at photo 2…that "nut" pertrudes out so i cannot turn the vent anymore
i have a cover over that radiator so if i put on an extension then a vent,the cover will not fit …the cover is already pretty close to the side
1. i didnt think it would be the main…since i really dont have that issue in any of the other ones except really two.
  1. but if the main vent…how do i know if it is bad…or do just replace…i think i have a Hoffman 75 on it now
  2. this is a 3 story single home

ethicalpaul · 2:54PM

Rotate it clockwise to vertical (or are my eyes deceiving me in some way??)
You can try other models of vents. Try a Maid O' Mist, they are pretty good and not pricey
a. Well that doesn't really prove the main is working—the air has to escape somewhere
i. watch it when the boiler starts boiling. You should be able to feel or hear it letting air escape.
ii. thank you

alanm · 2:55PM

also…what is better….

Try the extension first ….cover will not fit…..but if it stops the hissing…drill down lower and put vent in?
do these work…Varivalve 925005-00 Adjustable Angle Vent Valve
1. these look smaller and may be able to turn with that "nut" there
also…if it is hissing….like i have in another…do i need to slow down or increase the size of the vent?…

thanks!

alanm · 2:58PM

thanks….sorry…it is not turned all the way vetical because i have a cover that it is just over the top of the radiator…so if i turn the vent…it would hit the radiator….i think these wood covers were done way before my time!

ethicalpaul · 3:00PM

I'm still waiting on that photo of the vent side of one of these radiators
They probably work but I don't use them
I wouldn't change the vent size to try to eliminate hissing. Hissing is one or more of the following:
1. Your boiler is oversized
2. your main venting is not functioning or is not sufficient or both
3. your pressure control isn't functioning and is allowing too much pressure in your system

The air must escape your system every time there's a call for heat. You want the air from the main to exit via the main vent in the basement, then after that you want the radiators to slowly vent the remaining air.

Does this happen all heating season, or is it exacerbated during cold snaps?

Captain Who · 3:14PM

When you hear the vent noise where are you in the cycle? Also, do you have a low pressure gauge on your boiler?

By where are you in the cycle I mean, for example, is it near the end of the burner on/steam generation cycle or is it after the burners have shut off………etc.?

Are your vents ever closing, ie. they go silent during the burner on/steam generation cycle?

Maybe babysit one of those vents during entire cycle and let us know what happens. If you have a helper to correlate with boiler pressure (if you have a gauge) that would be helpful.

Heat Timer Varivalves are also available in the straight (as opposed to angled) configuration and would clear your covers until you can relocate them down lower.

Edit to add - If you don't have a bush in the casting down lower below the midpoint, which is where you would drill and tap 1/8 NPT for a vent, then I would say that these radiators were not manufactured for steam.

ethicalpaul · 3:18PM

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1884441#Comment_1884441

OK but you can at least rotate one of them vertically with the cover off to see if it affects the sound. If not, we can drop that item from our list of things to do

There is a lot of negative opinion about these Varivalve vents, but they are very small and might suit your situation. A lot of people I visit have them on their radiators that are under covers:

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Varivalve-VAAV-Varivalve-Adjustable-Angle-Air-Valve-3840000-p

alanm · 5:11PM

here are some other photos

steam 4.jpg

steam 5.jpg

steam 6.jpg

so i was going to try the following:

Take off cover, and put in anotehr vent…
if that works…and i need to keep cover, try that varivalve vent; or
looks like there is a spot midway…..can i block the top and put a regular vent in the middle?

alanm · 5:12PM

other photo

steam 7.jpg

steam 8.jpg

s

Captain Who · 5:19PM

Good for you. Photo 8 clearly shows the plug you need to remove to relocate the vent, which you probably know. I'd move the plug to the upper location, assuming it is same thread size as that Ventrite? vent.

ethicalpaul · 5:20PM

This is where the vent is supposed to go. But remember, this is unrelated to the hissing you are hearing. It will just make your radiator fill with steam better to have the vent down here

alanm · 5:22PM

how do you take the plug out…anything special? if this will not reduce the hissing/noise….what will this do ?

ethicalpaul · 5:24PM

It might make it easier for you to correctly orient the vent with the cover installed.

As I said, it will make your radiators behave more as they are supposed to in terms of filling with steam.

Otherwise, it won't affect your hissing issue. The guys just mentioned the vent was in the wrong place because it's in all of our nature to point out problems when we see them in photos.

You unscrew that plug with a flat head screwdriver, looks like from here. But it might prove difficult. Be prepared to drill it out and clean the threads if you go down this road.

alanm · 5:31PM

thanks….will try….i was going to put in a gorton #4…since in a bathroom…does that make sense?

ethicalpaul · 6:24PM

it’s hard to tell until it’s in there, since it’s such a small rad and since people like warm bathrooms you might start with a 5 or 6

Grallert · 8:29PM

I'd be very surprised if that plug comes of with out a battle. Sorry to say. It might but be prepared. That's why folks are suggesting simple turning the vent counter clockwise to vertical. The cover will have to wait until the plug comes out. It is the same threading as above though.

Radiator vent issue

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