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Stream of water out of air vent

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Jmcey
Jmcey Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam

Hi folks,

I've read tons of posts on this forum and I'm still stumped about what to do in my situation.

I live on the first floor of a six-story NYC building, over 100 years old. We have three radiators, and one of them has been continually problematic. When we moved in, it was off and when I turned it on, a stream of water came out of the gorton air vent. I replaced the gorton vent with a brand new maid o mist, same issue.

I checked the pitch of the radiator, it's well pitched back towards the shut off valve, the shut off valve looks fairly new (still has the tag), but I can't get this radiator to work properly. The shut off valve is fully open.

Why would there be so much water in my radiator? What specifically should I ask my super to look at? Any help is much appreciated!

Comments

  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 827

    Assuming one pipe steam since you have vents? He needs to examine the insides of that supply valve and make sure that it hasn't fallen apart where it isn't allowing condensate to get out of the radiator so that steam can get in. Also, he needs to check the pitch of any runout pipes from the main to the radiator in question. They should be pitched back towards the main and any vertical riser at something like 1/2 in. per foot.

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,522
    edited March 7

    It is because someone used the service valve to shut off the radiator . Steam can leak past the valve seat and may hold back the condensate returning back to the boiler . If the valve is open under steam pressure the trapped condensation is pushed out the vent .To shut off a one pipe steam radiator , remove the vent and replace with a brass plug . No vent no heat and no trapped condensate ..

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    operator80
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 799

    There might be a pitch problem with the steam supply pipe. If this is pitched down towards the radiator, a water seal is formed and the condensate can't drain back to the boiler.

    If this is the case, the steam pressure will push against the water seal, and the point of least resistance is the outlet of the air vent, so that's where it goes.

    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 827
    edited March 7
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1890842#Comment_1890842

    And I would add that sometimes the pipe near the radiator that is inside the flooring and the wall is not visible or I should say almost always isn't visible so a way to investigate would be to disconnect the radiator and see how much the supply valve with attached pipe can be raised without stressing the piping. You can see how it feels to raise it and how much. Then you can get incremental shims that will go under the feet of the radiator and raise it maybe 1/4 in. at a time until you hopefully get the radiator to where it can drain and receive steam properly again. It might not need a lot, like in the neighborhood of 1/2 to 3/4 in. or so.

    But the first thing is to check that supply valve to make sure it hasn't fallen apart. Don't assume it is new. Brass ages pretty well.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,672
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1890842#Comment_1890842

    A pitch problem on a supply pipe is indeed a valid concern, but it will not cause this issue.

    If the steam supply pipe is bad enough to cause a water seal, the steam will attempt to bubble through the water, initially causing hammer, but then finally when the water is warm enough the steam will gurgle past.

    The steam will not push the water up into the radiator and out of the vent.

    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

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