Anyone know how to adjust steam radiators?

[The Sauce]

I have been fighting with my steam heating for a while here. My house is completely unbalanced. It will be freezing in one room and 90 degrees in another. I have gotten conflicting information from several people on how to adjust the radiators. My father said that you turn the air release valves clockwise to close the valve and hence decrease the heat output. However the valves have numbers on them and turning it clockwise increases the number. The heater guy who came over said that increasing the number would increase the output - so turning it clockwise would actually open the valve and increase the heat output. It seems like turning the valves clockwise would close th valve but several radiators are completely to the right and are the hottest ones. I'm really confused and my heat sucks. Can anyone here shed some light?

 

[iRONic]

http://www.google.com/search?q=+adjust+...client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial

 

[iRONic]

The cold weather and a lot of prodding got me interested in solving a heating disparity in our home. We have steam heated radiators throughout the home, but for the past three winters (since we've lived here) 50% of the radiators get 100% of the steam and thus only 50% of our house is warm.

I've had several theories about the heating problem but wasn't until today's extreme cold that I attempted to test any of the theories.

Each radiator has a small valve/dial on the side opposite the steam entrance, numbered from 1 to 10. My theory was that as steam rose from the furnace each radiator valve would regulate how much/fast the steam came through by allowing air currently in the radiator to escape making room for the steam. Radiators with closed valves would make very little room for steam and not get warm while radiators with open valves would get hot quickly.

The theory seems to be true. Each radiator that was getting no heat either had a closed valve or the valve was clogged. I pulled each valve off and blew air through until it flowed easily through. Within just a few minutes of the valve opening or cleaning the "poor" radiators became hot.

Will continue to monitor over the next week to make sure we've got valves set correctly to heat the house evenly. Going into our third winter here it feels really good to have this solved.

 

[acemcmac]

I can hear dripping in some of mine... they're baseboard radiators. I hope they're okay

 

[j00fek]

i just took this kind of system out of my brothers house, as you say its very unbalanced heating wise. best thing to do is take em out and go with a baseboard. the initial investment will be probably substantial, but in the long run you will save money on heating costs.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Snatchface
I have been fighting with my steam heating for a while here. My house is completely unbalanced. It will be freezing in one room and 90 degrees in another. I have gotten conflicting information from several people on how to adjust the radiators. My father said that you turn the air release valves clockwise to close the valve and hence decrease the heat output. However the valves have numbers on them and turning it clockwise increases the number. The heater guy who came over said that increasing the number would increase the output - so turning it clockwise would actually open the valve and increase the heat output. It seems like turning the valves clockwise would close th valve but several radiators are completely to the right and are the hottest ones. I'm really confused and my heat sucks. Can anyone here shed some light?

You seemed to answer your own question.

1) Dad says one thing but nothing else backs him up.
2) Radiator labels, heater guy who is the expert, and your own feel of the heat output all say the exact opposite.

Conclusion: your dad was wrong. And what does it really hurt to try out an experiment? The ones that are hot and fully clockwise, turn a bit counter-clockwise. If they get cooler, bingo, you found your answer.

 

[jme5343]

I got tired of battling mine, took it out and installed central air. Part of it was the $300 heating bill, though.

 

[The Sauce]

Well I can't replace it in this house. It's over 100 years old with a stone foundation covering most of the piping. Still no answers. Anyone else know?

 

[Old Hippie]

Well I can't replace it in this house. It's over 100 years old with a stone foundation covering most of the piping.

Two things;
1. Anything mechanical can be replaced.
2. If the pipes are 100 yrs old, you're gonna have more problems.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

There are thermostats made that replace the safety valves. They work quite well but, are a little pricey.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Snatchface
Still no answers. Anyone else know?

WTF?! I gave you a link and a quote from one of the results.

Fvcktard...

 

[mordantmonkey]

have some one come and blow out your pipes. probably going to be kind of pricey, but it needs to be done every now and then. Some nasty ass water is going to come out of it too.

but i'd try cleaning the individual valves out first.

 

[The Sauce]

Originally posted by: iRONic

Originally posted by: Snatchface
Still no answers. Anyone else know?

WTF?! I gave you a link and a quote from one of the results.

Fvcktard...

I can do a google search too. That quote you posted had nothing to do with my question. I did the google search before I posted here. Couldn't find it. Try to play nicely in the future.

 

[The Sauce]

Originally posted by: mordantmonkey
have some one come and blow out your pipes. probably going to be kind of pricey, but it needs to be done every now and then. Some nasty ass water is going to come out of it too.

but i'd try cleaning the individual valves out first.

Already been done. That's not the problem.

 

[The Sauce]

The question is really this, simply put:

Which way to turn the air release valve to increase or decrease the heat output? Surprisingly, I can't find that answer anywhere.