Forum
« Recommendation for a cabinet maker? Customer-friendly granite fabricator? »
December 3, 2007
Radiators Blocked?
The two steam heated radiators on the top floor of my house are stone cold, while all the radiators on the bottom two floors are working fine. Does anyone know what the problem is? Can air pockets block the rising heat?
Comments
Do the radiators have air vents that make a hissing noise? Did they ever work? Did something change?
There are lots of reasons why they may not be receiving steam.
Try to narrow it down.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at December 3, 2007 2:47 PM
OP here,
There are no air vents that make a hissing noise. We've had the house for 4 years and the radiators worked until now.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at December 3, 2007 2:57 PM
Just to rule out the obvious, the valves are open on the radiator's right? I've closed them and forgot to reopen them.
Can you trace the steam pipe leading up to the top floor and see how far up it goes before it turns cold? Maybe the boiler is not generating enough pressure to push the steam all the way up?
If it were my house, I would test by shutting off all the downstairs radiators and see if the top floor responds. I doubt all your top floor air vents mysteriously clogged simultaneously, but I would check them anyhow.
Posted by: cornetor at December 3, 2007 3:26 PM
First thing, spend a couple of bucks and 5 minutes and change the air vents, preferably to adjustable ones. If that doesn't work and the shutoffs were never closed you must call an experienced plumber since it may be a preassure problem.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 3:37 PM
One thing to check is the riser (as opposed to the individual rads). The riser also has a venter, usually at the bend where the horizontal turns into a riser, and if it's not working, little or no steam will pass to get to the rads.
Posted by: guest at December 3, 2007 6:19 PM
OP Here,
We spent the evening bleeding the radiators last night. There was a lot of air which must have been blocking steam from reaching the top floor. risers seem to be heating up more. while top floor radiators are still not as hot as lower floors, they are at least warm.
Thanks to those who posted helpful comments.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at December 4, 2007 1:52 PM
If that worked, are you sure it's a steam system and not a hot water system? It's not possible for the air to block the steam in a steam system - since when the steam system heats up, steam fills the system and air rushes out of the vents. When it cools down, the steam condenses, and air rushes back in.
Heatinghelp.com is really helpful if you have a steam system. I really liked the description of the system "breathing" - exhaling air when heating up and inhaling it when cooling. This is why clogged vents can prevent the steam from entering the radiator and warming up.
Posted by: Heatherie at December 4, 2007 4:25 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.