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.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

What brand of radiator air vent do you suggest/avoid ?

Options
2»

Comments

  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,119

    OK, guys. Is there some reason I am the only person to mention that Varivalves don't close completely, or do you all save that comment for me?

  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 848
    edited March 9
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1891125#Comment_1891125

    Why do you think you are the only one? You mean in this particular thread? It's definitely no secret that they still vent at a pretty good rate even on the minimum setting. Their website says it. The charts posted on this website say it……

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,439

    Hoffman has moved their vent production to China, and the venting rates are now much slower. Avoid them.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 848

    What's going on in the steam radiator vent world……..sounds like it is getting to be a jungle out there.

  • 4GenPlumber
    4GenPlumber Member Posts: 138

    Price is increasing, quality is decreasing.

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,331

    Wonder which is worse, the quality of steam vents, or the quality of the disposable appliances we have now.

    Garbage to the left of me

    Garbage to the right

    Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • patrykrebisz
    patrykrebisz Member Posts: 117

    ALL vents can fail but some are less likely than others.

    Good:
    Maid-O-Mist
    Vent-Rite
    Gorton
    (maybe others but i don't have experience with the others)

    BAD, BAD, BAD:
    Varivalve

    »»» See my steam heat YouTube videos:
    https://www.youtube.com/@HeatingBlog

    ethicalpaul
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,562

    i think this what happens when you let the accountants override the design and quality control departments. profit goes way up but sales plummet. The company fades away while the accountant goes on to the next victim. The Chinese are capable of making a very good product but it takes a lot of effort to ride on then from 6,000 miles away - I've done the dance and i know from experience.

    Bob

    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    dabrakeman
  • ARobertson13
    ARobertson13 Member Posts: 134

    This is the end of my 3rd year of involvement in steam heating systems. I am at a loss to explain how anyone can say that any radiator vents are good. I can name no vents that are used for radiators that are of good quality [Low out of box failure or in service failure percentage]. Of vents used for mains, I did find one of good quality that many mentioned on this and other sites. It is my understanding that for plumbing and related devices [Valves, Vents, pressure relief valves, ect] the failure rate "out of the box" is under 2%.

    Captain Who
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,526

    I pay up for the Hoffmans.. They work for me ….

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 8,695

    The best part of Hoffmans is no doubt the markup

    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

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,439
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1891517#Comment_1891517

    Have you tried the Chinese ones?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,119

    @Captain Who Every year there are several discussions about vent valves and when Varivalves are mentioned there isn't much said about them not fully shutting off. I don't know how popular the Gill/Sajek report is to participants and the devil is in the details to find "truth" in the data tables.

    I created the venting chart several years ago when I was learning the hard way about balancing. I hope it is worthwhile to anyone looking at it, but it's not front page news.

    For those on HH for more than a couple of months, they might become aware. First timers (no pun intended) don't have the benefit of observing for an extended period.

    Your comment is appreciated.

    Captain Who
  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 848
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1891564#Comment_1891564

    When I wrote that I had forgotten that their own website implied zero flow when fully closed. I'm sure it was a mistake by whoever designed that online brochure but it doesn't say much for the thoroughness of the company that it never got corrected.

  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,119

    I looked at the website and did not find the implication of zero flow.

    https://www.heat-timer.com/ht_products/varivalve/#1540541399163-642f3b35-2613

    https://www.heat-timer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/VariValve_Lit.pdf

  • Captain Who
    Captain Who Member Posts: 848
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1891624#Comment_1891624

    They still didn't fix it. That chart shows a range of 0.0 to 0.80 CFM.

  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,119

    Duh, I was looking for words and completely ignored the chart. The Gill/Pajek report lists 0.065CFM at 1 oz pressure, see below. And there is plenty of space in the chart to show that as the minimum, instead of 0.0.

    image.png image.png

    Even us old guys can learn…if we pay attention. Thanks.

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,331

    Wait.

    Don't they fail closed? That counts.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    ethicalpaul
  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,119

    What does it count for?

    Fail means busted. Busted means it don't work no more. Don't work no more means no venting…then the venting rate forever is zero…maybe fail could mean stuck open (anywhere from partially to fully, maybe due to the quality of the water or some other evil ailment)! Does that make it count less?

    Your comment is almost a cruel joke.

Categories