Recommendation for steam radiator pro

Our steam heat system seemed to have been working fine, but now (last three weeks) it feels like several radiators don’t work, or only work intermittently, while others work perfectly fine. The pipes are always hot when the system is on, so it doesn’t feel like it’s a boiler issue. The plumber I had checking it out has taken a look several times, and it hasn’t gotten better. Clearly I need someone that is more specialized. Anyone have a recommendation for who I could contact to come take a look?

xuytbjicwnofjdde

in General Discussion 1 year and 3 months ago

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lkrshacmzcy | 1 year and 3 months ago

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Right now, it could be a simple fix for a Heating Specialist.
Once you try a DIY Project, it could be a complex (expensive) fix for a Heating Specialist.
Most companies are happy to help either way but I would assume you would prefer the first path.

colonialrevival | 1 year and 3 months ago

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Clogged vents, easy to fix

xuytbjicwnofjdde | 1 year and 3 months ago

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Thanks, all – I’ve connected with some of the heating pros on here. As Steve suggests, calling the experts is 100% the right thing for an amateur DIYer, like me!

justinromeu26 | 1 year and 3 months ago

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I work on all sorts of equipment (i put a new engine in my wife’s car by myself four years ago at 56 yrs of age so there is not a lot i am afraid of). Urbandad might be correct with some of what he is saying but there is too much going on here for a homeowner to guess about. One mistake can cost a lot of money. And any of us regular people can make a mistake with something we have no training on.

Umanish. I am consulting on a job with several people including an architect who uses or has used master plumber. He referred to him by name and told me “he is the best plumber in the city”. Call master plumber and have him run over your system and fix it and give you a little training about things you can do yourself.

This is coming from someone who operated boilers in a 90,000 sq ft building and who knows when to call the pros.

Steve
Brownstonehomeinspection.com

decoart | 1 year and 3 months ago

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I second what @Urbandad has said. The vents have a finite lifetime. They might not be allowing air to escape the radiator. If air is stuck in the radiator, steam will not make its way in.

Master Plvmber | 1 year and 3 months ago

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I’m a steam heating specialist. www.72Fmechanical.com

hkapstein | 1 year and 3 months ago

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There could be a lot of things going on here, but some easy things I would check are as follows:

Low water cutoff and autofeed. If the autofeed is stuck or malfuctioning, the system can fill with water including the radiators. This could result in a sudden change in how heat is distributed in the system, and other bad things.

Radiator vent valves. If a radiator valve is letting too much air out too quickly, it could affect the balance of the system.

Radiator shut off valves. Did kids mess with these? They should all be fully open.

System Balance: It’s been a lot colder recently than it has been for the past year and most of last winter. If the system wasn’t adequately balanced, you may not have noticed it at 40 degrees, but at 18 degrees it’s very noticeable. Try turning off the shutoff valves for the rads that get always get hot. Now crack up the thermostat. Do the cold radiators get hot? If they do, you may need to get new/correct radiator vent valves, and balance them.

Pressuretrol and other boiler components. There absolutely could be an issue with the boiler that has altered it’s performance.

justinromeu26 | 1 year and 3 months ago

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Get one of the three guys on here: master plumber, chris, eman.