Loud rattling in the radiator
I’ve posted on here before with wonderful results so I’m back again for some heating help. I have a rattling radiator that is consistently loud for 20 minutes to an hour at a time. The air vent has been replaced, the radiator is pitched back towards the pipe, and there isn’t a shut-off valve to…
I’ve posted on here before with wonderful results so I’m back again for some heating help.
I have a rattling radiator that is consistently loud for 20 minutes to an hour at a time. The air vent has been replaced, the radiator is pitched back towards the pipe, and there isn’t a shut-off valve to open. It started 2 weeks ago after 3 months of quiet heating.
Here’s a link to a video of the sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtU2gqoZW9w
Does anyone have any insight as to what this is? Is it just air trapped in the pipes? How can this be fixed? The radiator does not have a bleed valve.
Thanks for your help.
hmmm, im still thinking that water is not draining properly. might be sitting in an elbow under the floor. slowing the venting might help. instead of plugging the radiator, try turning the vent upside down. if its working correctly, the pipe coming from the main riser to your radiator and the radiator itself should not heat up. then you will see weather the noise is still there. if there is no noise i would try with a smaller vent, if the noise persists, then there are other issues. if the heating system is properly balanced there should be minimal if any noise anywhere…..
since the apt upstairs was not getting adequate heat, his radiators might need larger size vents. gorton C or D, D being the larger hole. and probably the main pipes in the basement are lacking main vents. gorton #1 or #2. educate the landlord.
Wow. Thanks for all the input. I’ll try to answer some of the follow-up questions you all have.
There is no shut-off valve on this radiator nor is there remains of one. It’s just a pipe coming out of the floor, a 90 degree bend, a few connecting pieces and then the radiator.
The sounds do seem to correspond to the time when the pressure was increased. The size of the air valve shouldn’t be the problem because it was working fine for the past 3 months.
The sounds seem to be coming from the base of the pipe coming out of the floor (where the shut-off valve should be). It’s not originating from within the radiator itself.
It does not sound like someone is hitting it with a hammer. It’s more of a rattle then a clang or bang.
As of today, the noise was persistent in the morning hours for long stretches (about 30 mins). Throughout the day, the heating cycles have been shorter and the noise has been reduced in time only…about 5 to 10 minutes.
Again, thanks so much for your insight.
I’ll agree to that. OP?
i really like your earlier suggestion. plug the rediator and see if there is still noise. chances are it’s from below. if there is no noise then remove the plug and play with the vent size, if it is a hoffman, then i would suggest replacing it with a gorton #5 and see how it plays out. no maid o mist vents…..
I looked again, actually several times, and paused the video but it’s a little too dark. OP! I’m beginning to think however that the problem is coming from below. An accumulation of water trying to get back to the boiler against the onrushing steam. Radiator has a hoffman valve.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://s3.pexsupply.com/images/products/zoom/401440-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pexsupply.com/Hoffman-401440-40-1-8-Angle-Steam-Radiator-Air-Valve-3517000-p&usg=__ov7SwUA_EMq_yZvbTWz3P32ZL4A=&h=500&w=500&sz=17&hl=en&start=29&sig2=0KnV4FeU61YioNh-Ae71ag&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=H9IxPdH3iah3sM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dradiator%2Bair%2Bvent%2Bvalve%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_en___US356%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1&ei=jA1uS67GI9eb8Qbb0PGKBg
Oh God! I would be tempted to replace it with the adjustable version seen on the right hand side of the above page. Play with the opening.
no shut off valve or remains of one?
The video shows a standard height radiator, waist level?, but only 4 sections. There’s a chance that the noise is coming from below. I would be tempted to put a plug in the vent hole and see or hear if the noise is coming from somewhere else.
you might not get less heat, the radiator will just heat up a bit slower. since they raised the preassure, the boiler will run longer which should compensate for the slower venting of this radiator. what is still bugging me is the lack of a shut off valve. for some reason i cant see the video on youtube, did you?
True maxsdad, the simple solution might be to cut the size of the air vent orifice. Maybe an adjustable one you could play with during each heat cycle. Although you’ll be cutting the amount of heat as well.