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October 16, 2009
Radiator Smell?
These past few winters I've noticed a smell coming out of the radiators is this common, or is this something to be concerned about?
Comments
What kind of smell? Often at the beginning of the heating season there's dust that emits a dry, somewhat charred odor.
Posted by: Arkady at October 16, 2009 3:45 PM
Yes that it, however the smell seems to last the entire season.
Posted by: Giovanna at October 16, 2009 4:22 PM
Is it a steam system?
You could have scuzzy boiler water.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 16, 2009 6:24 PM
I drained a boiler and smelled something skank today too. Kind of like rotten cabbage. . .
Posted by: IronBalls at October 17, 2009 1:11 AM
How can one tell if it a steam system?
Posted by: Giovanna at October 17, 2009 9:15 AM
It's a steam system if your radiators have little devices that make a hissing sound when the heat comes on . Also, the boiler will have a vertical glass tube, about 8 inches or so long, connected to it somewhere in plain sight.
Does that sound like what you have?
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 17, 2009 7:59 PM
Yes, it must be a steam system.
Posted by: Giovanna at October 17, 2009 8:41 PM
Then you should start by flushing the water out of the boiler and refilling it. As soon as you've finished that, turn up the thermostat to make the boiler run for a half hour or so. That will help take the corrosive properties out of the new boiler water.
Hope that helps.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at October 18, 2009 2:05 PM
Thanks, I'll try it!
Posted by: Giovanna at October 18, 2009 3:04 PM
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