Steam Riser Pipes Hissing
Hey there. I’m a newbie and this is my first ever post, so please bear with me… Just moved into an older co-op and I have a question about heating. The living room and bathroom have proper radiators, but the 3 bedrooms have only steam riser pipes. So far this has not been a problem…
Hey there.
I’m a newbie and this is my first ever post, so please bear with me… Just moved into an older co-op and I have a question about heating. The living room and bathroom have proper radiators, but the 3 bedrooms have only steam riser pipes. So far this has not been a problem as they are throwing off lots of heat (now wrapped in rope) but the valves at top — see photo — are also letting off lots of steam and making a lots of noise. I gather this is what they’re meant to do, but I question why they are needed at all. Since I have no radiator, can’t the vents be safely capped and let my upstairs neighbor suffer all the hissing? Of course I will hire a plumber for the actual work, but would love to know if this is a terrible and/or dangerous idea before I make the call. Thanks!
Thanks for the input.
I should make a clarification because my original post was incorrect — the vents are not shooting visible steam, just loud hissing (presumably hot) air, so maybe they are not defective? No problem upgrading to a better vent, but if they are supposed to release air then it won’t really solve my noise problem… I don’t want to be a “bad” neighbor, and I’m not sure if SteamMan was being facetious, but the guys upstairs do like to stomp around, which makes the plug idea even more attractive… Whatever I can do to improve our sleeping condition!
If that vent is throwing steam in addition to air, it is dirty or faulty. The vents are designed to allow air out and steam in; once they are filled with hot steam they should pop shut, and keep the steam in the pipe or radiator. I don’t think what you want to do is plug them, but get some new ones installed so they operate properly.
Steve
I think plugging them so your neighbor’s have to deal with the hissing is a fantastic idea! Wow.
Those little air vents are meant to allow air to escape from the radiators and their short piping branches only.
They are marginally effectively when installed on riser pipes and are hissing because they simply can’t handle the venting load to which they are exposed.
Get rid of the hissing by adding proper main vents in the cellar horizontal pipes and/or tops of the vertical risers.
If you remove them and plug the holes, the others are likely to hiss a bit more.