Radiators not heating.

Ok on wednesday I ran the steam for over 40 minutes in our five story brownstone.  I had everyone check their radiators for heat.  Everyone on floors 1, 3, 4, and 5 got heat on the first fin within 10 minutes or so and all across by the half hour.   For those who saw my previous posts, I took apart and reassembled the piping to my new unit and it heated like a champ (first floor).  The second floor has two radiators that were barely warm and one that is pretty much cold! Yes the radiators were turned on.  Yes the vents are just two years old, two C’s and a D.  Yes they are pitched correctly.  Yes they heated last year but only when we cooked the rest of the building. We are calling a plumber (or an exorcist), but I like to be armed with knowledge.  Can rust and debris slow down the efficiency of the radiator? (ie it needs to be vacuumed or washed)  Can a valve warp or fall apart and leave pieces in the pipes?  My favorite question:  Can someone with heating problems, still not know which way to turn a valve open?

Hardcharger

in Heating 13 years and 11 months ago

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Hardcharger | 13 years and 9 months ago

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Did they address your radiators when they replaced your boiler?   Knocking is not something you can solve yourself.   Spend a few bucks and get a plumber in,  if you are cold now in this mild weather,  wait till Jan/Feb.

enforcer66 | 13 years and 9 months ago

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OK here is my issue. I am in a 2 story brownstone in brooklyn 3 stories if you include the basement. The basement is not a issue when it comes to heat. The first floor gets some heat but not enough to keep it even all the way thru the 1st floor. Now the second floor has issues. The back of the second floor gets heat and it does stay warm where the front of the second floor is colder than a fridge. There is some kocking going on in the system that I either hear late at night or early in the morning. I do hear steam coming from the radiator but not from all of then. I need to know if you can help me out in laymans terms. the turning of the vavles seem to be helpful but dont know what your talking about when your talking percentage. I have a beckett gas heater and it was installed 2 years ago. Help me my mother in law is freezing in her room and I wanna help her out as well as get the whole house to the right temp equally.

ellenlourie | 13 years and 11 months ago

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In my opinion radiator shut off valve absolutely must be open all a way up, then half turn down, the reason of having it tutned  half turn down is,  if valve gets stuck, and you do not know what position it is in, you turn it either way without risk of breaking it. If valve is half way open(closed) then it restricts condensate flow from radiator to the system in one pipe steam system, as steam locks condensate in the radiator and it floods radiator, causing banging and water  spitting from air valve.

eman134 | 13 years and 11 months ago

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check the condition of the main vents at the base of the risers…they may be fouled, if they exist…otherwise, have them installed by drilling and tapping. C and D vents are  too big for the second floor, so something is out of balance…for a free consultation contact me via the email on my profile

Master Plvmber | 13 years and 11 months ago

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“Can rust and debris slow down the efficiency of the radiator? (ie it needs to be vacuumed or washed)” **I’ve never seen it happen.**  Can a valve warp or fall apart and leave pieces in the pipes? **Yes** My favorite question:  Can someone with heating problems, still not know which way to turn a valve open? **If you’re not sure, turn ir all the way one way, then count the turns to turn it all the way the other way, then turn it half the amount of turns back the other way. Now the valve is half open and will work practically as if it were fully open for your purposes.**