Strange part of radiator system?
Hi all, I moved into a brownstone in the Park Slope neighborhood about 6 months ago. This is the first time I have lived in a place with steam radiators, and I have a question about a piece of the system. In our bathroom, there is a pipe that runs from the floor, about 5…
Hi all,
I moved into a brownstone in the Park Slope neighborhood about 6 months ago. This is the first time I have lived in a place with steam radiators, and I have a question about a piece of the system. In our bathroom, there is a pipe that runs from the floor, about 5 feet tall. It is topped with what appears to be a steam valve (see attached image), I am assuming to allow air to bleed out of the system. When the heat/steam is on, the pipe gets hot, and a thin trickle of steam comes from the top. It also makes quite a racket, both from the steam escaping from the top, and what sounds like a clinking rattle inside the device. It’s loud enough that you can hear it with the bathroom door closed. My question is twofold–what is this thing, and is there any way that I can quiet it down? Is the valve faulty? Or will it always make such a racket?
Thanks for any help!
It’s an air vent, cost about $10.00 and they don’t last forever.
Thanks townhouser. I’m on the garden level, so ostensibly near the boiler. I do rent, and wouldn’t replace it myself, but was curious as to what the thing does. I’ll talk with my landlord and see if we can get it taken care of.
Thanks!
I dont know if they call it this, but it’s a ‘main’ vent on top of a riser. similar to a radiator vent, but not, because it doesn’t screw into a radiator and screws in vertically, not on the side like a radiator vent.
it helps let air out of the system to allow steam in. it usually is at the top of the line (are you on the top floor?) or in the basement near the boiler (main vent).
If it’s steaming too much it could mean there’s too much pressure in the system. Mine did this when the water level was too high in conjuction with a very high pressure.
Are you renting or own? I wouldn’t touch that thing when the heat is on, and if you can’t turn off the heat then that will be tricky, especially if the heat turns on while you are out looking for the part.
I dont know if they call it this, but it’s a ‘main’ vent on top of a riser. similar to a radiator vent, but not, because it doesn’t screw into a radiator and screws in vertically, not on the side like a radiator vent.
it helps let air out of the system to allow steam in. it usually is at the top of the line (are you on the top floor?) or in the basement near the boiler (main vent).
If it’s steaming too much it could mean there’s too much pressure in the system. Mine did this when the water level was too high in conjuction with a very high pressure.
Are you renting or own? I wouldn’t touch that thing when the heat is on, and if you can’t turn off the heat then that will be tricky, especially if the heat turns on while you are out looking for the part.
Thanks for the help! I tried the sock as a short term fix, and I have to admit, it worked far better than I’d expect.
What is the thing called? What does it do?
Or you could just stick a sock over it.
It’ll still vent, but the hissing sound won’t be as loud.
If it’s passing steam, it is worn and needs to be replaced. You may be able to unscrew it and clean it out somehow, but it’d be much more trouble than it would be worth.
Anyway, you’d have to match the thread size with the new air valve. That one looks like it has an 1/8″ thread which makes it a convector vent, which is technically too small for what it’s doing.
My advice is to shut off the heat, unscrew it and bring it to a plumbing supply store and ask for a replacement. The new one will probably look different. The one you have there is cheap. Buy the Gorton or Hoffman brands.