Top floor does not get enough heat
I have a three story building and the top floor unit’s radiator does not heat up. The radiator itself is working because it got hot after i made the boiler run continuously for 20 minutes. I raised the thermostat, located on the first floor, to 74 degrees, but the top floor is still not getting…
I have a three story building and the top floor unit’s radiator does not heat up. The radiator itself is working because it got hot after i made the boiler run continuously for 20 minutes.
I raised the thermostat, located on the first floor, to 74 degrees, but the top floor is still not getting warm. What’s the problem? Is it a pressure issue, boiler capacity issue or something else? Thanks.
Is it your first Winter in this home and if not, was this a problem last year? If the radiator is located on the 1st. Floor, than it may just be that the 1st. Floor is very warm (usually happens with steam) and the 74 degrees may not be relevant at this point. You said that the boiler had to run for 20 minutes to get heat upstairs? Yes, with proper venting you can probably shorten that time and help to “balance” the system. There are many posts about steam heat which suggest to install smaller vents lower in the system and larger at the Top. This will help, but also take into account the size of the radiators as well. There are different schools of thought about venting and both can come into play. It may take a little time and tweaking, but the ultimate goal will be to make it a little cooler on the lower floors while still producing heat upstairs.
That would work if the OP has a hydronic system. You can’t bleed steam…
-SteamMan
What about bleeding the things? If they heat up eventually may just be heat conducting through the iron versus the water/steam doing their job. Always have that problem at beginning of year and bleed my hot water system on top two floors.
Agree with SteamMan. Replace your top floor radiator valve with a vari-valve and open that bad boy all the way.
http://www.heat-timer.com/en/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=36
Oops, re-read the post. Check the radiator vent and main vent. Check radiator pitch although I think it’s probably ok if there’s no water hammer. Unless your boiler was replaced in the not too distant past, and this is a new problem, I would say you have a bad vent.
-SteamMan
Could be any number of issues. Sounds like most likely venting at the bottom of the riser might be one, could also be a bad radiator vent. Does the riser get hot at all? If so, how far away from the rad does it get hot?
-SteamMan