/diy/ - Do It Yourself

[Anonymous No.1727299]

Just moved into an old house with cast iron steam radiators. I know this is a retard question, but can someone explain to me these air valves?

[Anonymous No.1727307]

>>1727299
You set it for how warm you want the room. It works by letting cooler air out of the radiator until the vent gets hot enough and closes. By venting out cooler air hotter steam can enter the radiator through the pipes from the boiler. Once it closes no new steam can enter and the radiator stops getting warmer until the vent cools enough to reopen.

[Anonymous No.1727313]

tips: you generally want the furthest room from the boiler on the highest setting and the ones closer to be progressively smaller. if you are getting the water hammer noise you have a valve not open all the way or an improperly draining radiator. they should be all the way open for heat and completely closed for disabling heat in a room. if you hear hissing or gurgling on a valve it needs to be repacked. Finally, the pressure sensor at the boiler should be set relatively low and cycling off and on should be normal if there are no leaks

[Anonymous No.1727314]

Congrats, OP. Do yourself a favor and get this book. Steam heat is the comfiest.