Steam Heat- Thermostat

JBels · October 20

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We have a house primarily heated by steam heat. The problem we are having overnight is my son's small second floor bedroom has been warming to a high temperature overnight, as the thermostat is located downstairs in a spacious area. Looking to find a way to keep the heat down in his room. We have adjusted the valve in his room to the lowest setting, and even with the heat set to 69 degrees downstairs, his room has been getting to 75-77 degrees overnight. Thanks

Edited to add pictures

Bcos17 · October 20

Have you tried reducing the size of the air vent on the radiator in your son's bedroom?

109A_5 · October 20

" We have adjusted the valve in his room to the lowest setting "

Radiator supply pipe valve or the Air vent valve ?

If the air vent valve, if you can identify the port or passage where the air comes out of the air vent valve you may be able to restrict it more or totally with tape or something creative to see what happens.

KC_Jones · October 20

Sounds like a balance problem, thermostat won't fix it. Is this a 2 pipe or 1 pipe system? You can tell by how many pipes are connected to the radiator. Post a picture of a typical radiator if you aren't sure. The recommendations is different for the different systems, but balance is the common goal.

pecmsg · October 20

The "System" needs balancing by changing air vents.

You can put a blanket on that radiator too slow the heat output until a more permanent solution is found. As you block the air flow you reduce the heat output.

ChrisJ · October 20

If this is a single pipe system you either need a slower vent in the small bedroom, or larger vents other places or maybe both.

If you can share pictures of some of the radiators, it would help us.

ethicalpaul · October 21

Put a blanket on part or all of the radiator, that's the easiest, after you verify that your radiator vent is working correctly and is a small one like a #4.

If you are using an adjustable vent (don't say "valve" if you are talking about the vent), then switch to a Maid O Mist or Gorton #4, then go with the blanket if it's still too hot in there

EBEBRATT-Ed · October 21

A blanket can work.

If you don't like the looks and changing vents doesn't help enough you could build or have a carpenter build a radiator enclosure tht will restrict the air flow. Build it so you can adjust the air flow to the radiator.

JBels · October 21

Hi, I added pictures to my discussion post. Thanks!

109A_5 · October 22

With this type of vent the retainer screw (Red arrow) can be unscrewed and the inclined circular aperture in the conical adjuster can be seen. If the conical adjuster part (Orange arrow) is lifted off you can see the air bleed orifice in the main vent assembly. When resembled, hold the conical part in place, make sure it stays at the minimum opening (blocking the air bleed orifice) when the retainer screw is snugged up.

ethicalpaul · October 22

Oh he already had an enclosure. At this point you might consider disabling the radiator completely by rotating the vent so it is upside down (works for most vent types), or installing a 1/8" npt shutoff valve in front of the vent, or by going with the blanket over the radiator, under the enclosure.

JBels · October 24

Thank you all for your help! We have tried to leave just a small opening in the air bleed orifice and we will see how that works.

Steam Heat- Thermostat

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