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November 1, 2007
Noise-making radiators
Our radiators in a new house make a terrible clanking noise when they heat up. What's the cause of that and how to remedy it? Thanks!
Comments
probably air in the pipes. call a plumber. i had the same issue. now no noise.
Posted by: guest at November 2, 2007 2:02 AM
Is it a steam system? I'm guessing it is.
If so, it's not air. It's water.
In steam systems, there is always air in the pipes. What do you think is in there when they're not filled with steam?
Here's a good resource:
http://www.heatinghelp.com/steam_waterhammerinthesystem.cfm
Posted by: bigs at November 2, 2007 5:14 AM
Had the same problem with our steam system. Plumber "bled" the system and it reduced the clanking a lot. Think process involved removing air pockets . . . . but I could be wrong. Either way, plumber fixed it pretty quickly and if you watched what they did, you could probably do it next year.
Posted by: Johnny at November 2, 2007 9:18 AM
I have an old steam system with a new boiler. During the winter months I have to drain the sludge out of the boiler at least once a week and refill with fresh water. This helps keep the clanking down. My plumber showed me how to do this.
Posted by: guest at November 2, 2007 10:16 AM
I live in a pretty neglected rent-stab building and the clanging is out of control - much worse than your usual occaisional banging. If our landlord won't address the issue I wonder if we have rights?
Posted by: guest at November 2, 2007 11:23 AM
Just the way things are in old NYC buildings, buy ear plugs and take some Nyquil.
Posted by: bmfesq at November 2, 2007 11:34 AM
Sounds like something is wrong w/ your pitch, either the radiator pitch or your risers or something.
Maybe your old radiator is sinking into the floor and rotting your wood floor/subfloor and is now not draining excess water properly from the radiator back down the pipes which leaves water in the pipes.
When water trapped in the pipes and gets "steamed" up again, it makes the terrible noise you hear.
Posted by: sxm at November 2, 2007 12:46 PM
Sounds like air.You need a plumber to bleed the system.
Posted by: iluvclintonhill at November 2, 2007 3:02 PM
If it's a hot-water system (2 pipes attached o your radiators) then maybe bleeding the air out of it will help.
If it's steam, guest(10:16) and sxm(12:46) are correct.
If you want to know more about steam systems before you call the plumber or want to try to fix it yourself, order via internet 'The Lost art of Steam Heating' by Dan Holloman. Very easy/fun to read.
Posted by: guest at November 2, 2007 5:53 PM
bmfesq (11:34) is an idiot. 'just the way things are'. What a stupid way to look at things. go scrape some asbestos off your steam pipes and take a deep breath - 'cause that's just the way things are. der
Posted by: guest at November 2, 2007 5:58 PM
I have an steam/gas system,I have tried every thing possible and I still cannot get rid of the banging,water noise,and the latest after replacing a feed pipe with copper I now get marbles sound that sounds like marbles going up and down the copper pipe.
I have pitched all radiators,I have replace all my valves to valuable type and adjusted them according to floor level that it is on.
Am I overlooking anything? Please HELP.
Posted by: guest at February 18, 2008 11:11 AM
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