Steam Heat / Radiator
I have steam heating and iron radiators. I was wondering if any steam-heat experts can tell me: a) the small ‘valve’ attached to the side of the radiator on some of them really hisses loudly, while others are not noticeable at all. All readiators get nice and hot… Can I fix this? b) occasional knocking…
I have steam heating and iron radiators. I was wondering if any steam-heat experts can tell me:
a) the small ‘valve’ attached to the side of the radiator on some of them really hisses loudly, while others are not noticeable at all. All readiators get nice and hot… Can I fix this?
b) occasional knocking whent he heat is turned on. Subsides. Anything I can do about that?
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Of course Master Plvmber covered it, but I’d also recommend the book A Pocketful of Heating Problems (And Solutions). I bought it on http://www.heatinghelp.com
From what I understand, the knocking is likely from water condensation in the radiators & pipes. Did you turn off the inlet valves to the radators while the system was still hot? If so, the steam is cooling and then condensing into water, which causes the knocking when you turn the system back on and open up the inlet valve.
That valve is an air vent. It gives air a way to escape the radiator so that steam has a place to go.
If it is making too much noise, it may be because the pressure in your system is set too high.
It takes less than one pound of steam pressure to deliver heat to all the parts of the system in a typical Brownstone or Townhouse yet many boilers I see are set to produce 300% more than that. It’s not just an annoying noise maker, it means it’s burning much more fuel than necessary.
Have the pressure adjustment checked the next time you have a knowledgeable heating professional in your home and he can probably make the system behave more to your liking.
If you don’t like that answer, try changing the vent to a good brand name unit like Gorton or Hoffman. You could just have old cruddy vents.