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How much air should come out the air vent

Cosmo_3
Cosmo_3 Member Posts: 845
in THE MAIN WALL
#1- It depends..... On a cold start the steam has to heat up the piping enough to allow steam just to make it near the radiator. When the burner cycles on while the piping is still kinda warm, the steam makes it there quicker because it does not have to reheat all that piping. When steam gives up it's heat it changes state back to a liquid (condenses). The amount of heat the system has to produce just to heat up the piping is part of your "pickup factor". The more time the piping has to cool, the more air is drawn back in the piping that has to be pushed out again on the next cycle.

#2 Yes, do it NOW! But why galvanized? Who put galvanized piping in? You sure it is galvanized?



Cosmo

Comments

  • Ralph Trentacosta_2
    Ralph Trentacosta_2 Member Posts: 6
    How much air should be coming out the air vent

    Hello
    I replaced my air vents on 3 of my radiators. Should they be hissing for a period of time? Sometime they go (hiss) for a minute or 2, other times they go for 5. What should I be expected? Also, I have un-insulated galvanized steam pipes, should they be insulated?

    Thanks,
    Ralph
  • Big Ed_3
    Big Ed_3 Member Posts: 170
    No Noise

    Hissing is telling me that you don't have enough venting . A steam system is quiet if it's set up right . Your system needs work.
  • Ralph Trentacosta_2
    Ralph Trentacosta_2 Member Posts: 6


    Thanks for both of your replies. As far as the piping goes, I believe it is galvanized. It is not copper. When I had to have a valve replaced, the tech needed to break the old pipe with a hammer. If not galvanized, what should it be? Could it be cast iron?

    Thanks again,
    Ralph
  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Cast Iron

    If you can crack a fitting it would be cast iron..

    Galvinized would have a flake type look. Someone could have painted the pipe.Most likey a previous German owner.. Polish like to paint the pipes too. If you have varnished copper piped then he was German..
  • Ralph Trentacosta_2
    Ralph Trentacosta_2 Member Posts: 6
    Cast Iron

    Thats funny.

    To make matters worse, off the boiler is copper, then it is cast iron.

    So can I insulate Cast Iron? Its about 2 inch. The only stuff I have seen in my local Home Depot, was the flat fiberglass that I would manully wrap around the pipe my self. Is that the correct way to do it?

  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Insulation

    You can but the correct pipe covering is easyer.. Which is a stiff covering with reinforced paper covering.Cut it to lenght with a stake knife .Open like a clam shell to cover the pipe. Buy a bag of stick tight , mix up and pack the fittings.Chicken wire could be used to reinforce the the stick tight. Or you can buy the nice premade boots.....
  • Charles_8
    Charles_8 Member Posts: 74
    Lowe's doesn't have it either, but...

    ...it's easy enough to mail-order. Here's where I got my 2 1/2" (pipe size) insulation:

    http://expressinsulation.com/one_in_fb.html

    -Charles
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