How to Quiet a Banging Steam Radiator | This Old House
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ต.ค. 2024
- This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey silences a noisy radiator. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for How to Quiet a Banging Steam Radiator:
Furniture pads, used as shims to level tilting radiator
Air vent, for replacing the existing air vent
Teflon tape, for sealing the threads on the new air vent
Tools for How to Quiet a Banging Steam Radiator:
Pipe wrench, used to loosen the nut securing the radiator to the steam pipe
48-inch level, for leveling the radiator
Steps:
1. Turn down the room's thermostat to ensure the heating system doesn't start up.
2. Use a 48-inch level to check the radiator for level.
3. Use a pipe wrench to loosen the nut holding the radiator to the steam pipe.
4. Lift the low end of the radiator and slip furniture pads under each foot of the radiator.
5. Raise the opposite end of radiator and set it down onto furniture pads.
6. Check the radiator for level, and add or subtract more furniture-pad shims, if necessary.
7. Tighten the nut to reconnect the radiator to the steam pipe.
8. Unscrew the old air vent from the radiator.
9. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of a new air vent, then install the new vent onto the radiator; hand tighten it only.
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How to Quiet a Banging Steam Radiator | This Old House
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Wowowow. A level, a minor adjustment, and blessed quiet. That was all it took to quiet the radiator that has been waking me up with banging for all these years. Thank you!!
He replaced the air vent
The air vent doesn’t make all the banging noise. I have these type of heaters, a Royal PAIN! They make the most ungodly noises! Now I know how to maintain the problem myself. I love This Old House!
Neighbor: Now I cant sleep because of all the banging your doing! 🤦
It's good that Richard leveled the radiator. Now when it falls through the floor it'll do it evenly.
thr house looks funking destroyed Fix the house nerd with the glasses
Slavic Union, he's renting why should he? it's not his house.
Lmaooo
Hahahaha xD
lol
Thank you so much omg! At my university I lived in one of the oldest girls dorm halls and every room had these exact same silver radiator heaters, so we would always hear the clanking every time the school turned on the boiler so we could run heat and it always made that eerie sledgehammer noise and the steaming noise. Now I know what it is lol. The buildings are really old too so it makes so much sense.
Not having cable growing up... watching this old house is a Saturday morning memory
I've been living with steam radiators for 60 years and I never knew any of this stuff until now. On the other hand, the hissing pinging old radiator is a warm & comfy sound to me.
Mine sometimes sounds like a bomb went off..id be lost without it after 9 years lol
@@jamieslyman4483 lol
@@jamieslyman4483 LOL I'm just literally cracking out in in laughter as I'm reading your comment. I'm in New York city and been a landlord for an old but big house for last 6 years and one of my big radiator make this big banging noise quite often throughout the day in whole winter. But as a landlord it doesn't sound bad at all to me LOL. But I think now I would call a plumber to check it out and let him fix it.
I heard these old things in Grade school. They made all kinds of noises and always heated. Didn’t bother me at all.
Great lesson. A friend had helped me with this method; he said he was taught this by an old-school plumber; I have found younger plumbers will tell you nothing can be done because the radiator is at the end of the line. My house was built in 1925.
The Noise comes from the unbalanced heaters, which has too much water in them, pushes out and leaks and makes the worst banging noise you can possibly imagine. More than you think! Thank God For this Old House! I can fix my own Steamers myself and place new vents too. woo Hoo!! So Thankful!!
One of the best small shims I have used costs only 25 cents...it's a Quarter. Nickels and pennies turn green.
You are better off using something with a larger footprint to disperse the load.....that floor looks soft
@@markschiavone8003 radiators (water/hydronic systems), which when full, are quite heavier, sit no problem, so quarters should be fine
Must have been hard for Richard to walk away without fixing that terrible floor. But he is the plumber not the the flooring contractor!
For sure! That could be a whole episode. First, Tommy would remove a section of the old floor under the radiator. Then they would take a field trip to a factory that makes oak flooring. The homeowner would look at a bunch of samples and pick one he likes. In the meantime, Richard would put in a new, super-efficient water heater and decide the house needs new pipes.
Being such an old house they could never match the color so they would have to redo the whole floor then it would not match they rest of the wood floors so the whole house would need to be redone lol
Then this is where Roger comes into play. The front yaaard would need to be redesigned, new plants installed and soil treated with some staarrter fertiliser.
I ACTUALLY THINK IT NEEDS AN OPEN CONCEPT
Bet the walls, and floor joints are in great shape, too. *****
I don’t even have a steam radiator in my house and neither does anyone I know, I don’t know why I’m watching this but I’m into it
And I just did like 10 minutes of research on steam radiation’s lmaoooooooo 😂😂
Libby I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Gosh, that used to happen in my old house and the plumbing company recommended me to change the boiler. When it was banging, I used to drain some water from the boiler until the water was level in the glass tube. Thank you Richard.
this is my current situation now and the same things I was instructed. so my question to you is what did you do to stop the banging and clanking noise. was it draining the water at the boiler until the glass was at its half-way mark, or was it tilting the raditator at a decent pitch like this video shows ..or did you do something else?
calltyshon go ask for help at heatinghelp.com
@@calltyshon had this issue too and the guy adjusted the water level, water level now sits a little below half way. The automatic feeder kept feeding the boiler water since it had a bad gasket internally.
I wish they turned it on so we can hear if the noise went away
Yep
BTW Michael I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Rich's explanations are golden, thanks!
That was quite interesting. I do have a few questions...
1) are there “adjustable” height feet that can be used that only require something like an Allen key?
2) how much pressure (psi) do these steam boilers operate under?
3) so most heaters really only produce heat when they are ...active or ON. While the radiator will still give off some heat once the boiler is turned off, it won’t last very long. So I heard about Rocket Mass Heaters, or Kachelofens which burn wood for an hour or two, and the exhaust air will heat a thermal mass, usually clay based, which will retain the heat for some 24 hours (a room would cool from 75 down to 60°).
So the idea I have is taking your steam radiator and enclosing it in a clay based thermal mass to hold the heat for many hours and reduce actual burn time. The ends of course would still be exposed to slow the airlock and valve to be accessible (unless they can be extended out).
Any suggestions for my idea as a diy project?
I saw you comment, 3 years later. Did you ever try the thermal mass idea? How did it turn out?
Law of thermodynamics, you would use more energy heating up the clay casing to heat the room.
The only fuel that can provide more energy than used is uranium and plutonium with steam
this is why you always take advice from old ppl. LOL. They know what's whazup
Tom Silva comes the week after to replace the rotted wood floor.
So what was the outcome did it solved the problem? Where’s part 2?🤔
You made the radiator level so how could the water flow down towards the valve?
When the radiator was disconnected, that would have been a good time to change the valve that caused the damage to the floor.
He didn't want a "much bigger job" :-)
HA! Try it sometime. That valve is seized in place. He might get it off with a blow torch, or he might still break the riser pipe trying. Sometimes you let sleeping dogs lie.
Oh, he did so good, right up until the end when he put the thread tape on backwards.
@@earlebird4262 the tape was put on correctly. I think you need to invest in glasses or rewatch a few times
@@earlebird4262 the tape was put on correctly. I think you need to invest in glasses or rewatch a few times
I've had steam heating in two house and what can I say, always issues with the radiators pipes etc but the heat feels less dry than hot forced air.
Mine does this in my dorm room... Clanging is extremely loud and wakes me up every night. Called maintenance, they wouldn't even look at it. :/
@@flinch622 This is legit terrible advice.
Of course they don't. They're getting you used to government housing
Bee I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Did this stop the " jack hammer " sound ?
is it possible to lift up the vent end too much and create a bad connection on the supply fitting? im getting a little leaking under the supply valve after leveling my radiator.
Wish that was only my problem. Had to spend the day installing new return lines.
I always wondered what caused that sound.
Ok great information, now how can I hire you to fix my problem since my radiator is inside the wall
How old are you Richard. How many years have you been working
Also, a boiler that is overfilled with water will cause banging in the pipes and radiator.
And will eventually push hot water into the system along with steam. Pipes leak, radiators flood and leak, not a pretty sight. Happening around town even as we speak, because of the extended bitter cold and systems running non-stop and people not knowing to keep an eye on the water level in the boiler and drain it off if it gets too high.
@@AbsentWithoutLeaving Close the feedwater valve? It's a closed system, it should not have to be open to city pressure.
I am surprised Ritch didn't pitch the radiator towards the supply pipe, that way water will find it easier to return.
I'm assuming the radiator has an internal pitch to allow for water to drain once you position the feet on a level platform, otherwise, you just have a level pool of water.
exactly. Shim it to level, but no pitch? confusion
What type of shims are those? Where can someone buy them from?
You were doing good right up to the point where you installed a Chinese knockoff air vent!
Was thinking the same thing!
Are those bad? I had those, labeled USAV-800b, I believe. Just changed them out for “PLUMBERS EDGE # 40M 1/8 in. Steam Angled Radiator Vent”.
thank you I have this problem no more!!!!!!!!!
I read the video title wrong. Instructions unclear. Now I have a baby space heater and have to pay steam child support.
What about the vertical heating pipe that runs through all the apartment units? The kitchen one is awful. The bathroom one is perfectly quiet.
People need to be discussing near boiler piping and the relationship of convection forces and fitting selections..
Good ole Chicago and NYC homes homes still use the pre-WW1 radiator technology. I go anywhere West of the mississippi and tell people my house radiator heating they look at me like I am crazy.
Yeah, single pipe steam system here in Chicago, and worse, the building has been 'renovated' into condos, the whole thing has been reconfigured and altered over time, so what was once no doubt a beautifully balanced system has been thrown completely out of whack. Gets a lot of hammer issues, probably because when pipes were reconfigured, not enough attention was paid to pitch. And of course you always get the occasional "It's my condo, and I'm going to do what I want'" owners who decide they are going to regulate the heat by half-way shutting down the main valve to "make it cooler" instead of listening to the basic info they're given, both verbally when they move in and on paper for future reference, on how the system works. Sigh.
There was also gravity hot air heat, which rose up through huge ducts to fancy air vents in each room by gravity, many old homes had these. Also many old homes had no central heat, just a coal stove in one of the main rooms and another in the kitchen. Many Chicago homes were built like this. In later years these were replaced with oil and natural gas space heaters. Both the coal stoves and the gravity hot air were considered lower end heating systems, and steam and hot water radiators were considered a high end or deluxe system of heating.
I would have liked to see something put on the union That was leaking near the valve!
Graphite or even put some megalock or some pro dope on it
It would have been better to replace the steam relief valves with properly sized Gorton valves.
Shouldn’t he have pitched it toward the supply valve instead of making it level ?
precisely. confusion
Far end of radiator SHIMMED but still level? Where is the tilt at the far end so the cool water returns via gravity? confusion
Did it work?
I figured this would be a good forum to ask a question? My radiator doesn't do any type of knocking. However it keeps cracking the air vents. In 3 years I put two air vents on. Both vents have cracked on the bottoms. Does anybody have any idea why this one radiator keeps having this issue? The radiator is on first floor, approximately 10 ft from the furnace, for which the furnace is in the basement. Any feedback would be grateful. Thank you
I can't believe that radiator had no fixing mounts, how dangerous is that. Won't be long before that radiator falls through that floor.
Cliff Carlo I was going to say they need to get in a darpenter bemore fixing that. That floor is gross and radiators shouldn't lean just by sitting on the floor.
now we all see how bad plumbers used to be ...
why didn't you change that radiator valve too? it's got no handle and it's shot......
I'm confused if the you want the water in the radiator to run towards the return, why would you want the radiator level. Shouldn't it be at an angle?
soursop it was leaning the wrong way. The bottom pipe is propably tilted, so it's nice and square.
ok thx
what a great explanation. thank you
I love hydronic radiators but steam is another story. Also, I would HAVE TO fix that floor.
Where can we get the shim you used? The one at 2.31 minutes. Please let me know. This is very helpful
Try these...
www.amazon.com/dp/B084HHJZG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_66vNFb1NZQV5Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This was the closest thing I could find. I am buying two sets to try for two really loud radiators that we have.
Is possible to apply this to the steam radiators in the NYC apartments? Would Super have to turn off the boiler for the whole building before i can lift and move radiator? Will that stop banging pipes?
If the valve is shut completely off then it can be done. But if the system is on and the valve has the slightest leak, you can have high pressure steam blowing into your home. Its safer to let Super know and shut down boiler.
Does anyone know what the banging noise at the pipe that goes through your house is?? Not making the noise at the radio yet but at the big pipe next to it... and I mean so loud, the first time I heard it, I thought the house was going to blow!? Please help me you tube knowers of knowledge!
Wetdewlap maybe a water hammer?
Maybe what they explain in this video? th-cam.com/video/SKARwkGT3kQ/w-d-xo.html
The landlord need to do some maintenance, the floor under that rad is really rotten, those boards need to replaced.
You think everybody rents? Some people aren't as poor as you so they can afford to buy their own houses.
Oscar Muffin lmao you’re 100% a boomer and your ugly family hates you
Charles I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
@@oscarmuffin4322 Actually I don't own because I spent 17 years in the Canadian Military moving about every 3 years, so it didn't pay to own a house, and I've seen the problems my sister has had with her house. I've been in same apartment for 24 years now and when there is a problem I just call the property management company and they send someone out to fix it, it takes longer than if I owned the place, but it's no money out of my pocket. I'm 70-years old and Disabled, so I'll be moving into a retirement home in the next couple of years and still won't have to worry about repairs.
@@Chuck59ish imagine all the money you could've saved yourself if you bought and paid off your home years ago and had no mortgage. Might've been able to retire early.
I thought the end of the road with the vent is supposed to be pitched higher than the other e d so the condensate flows back? But why did he check it for levelness??
M R... You could "eyeball" it or use the level to be sure.The problem with the "eyeball" method is if the house has a sag then both the floor and that windowsill will be off, which will fool the eye. Radiators will work fine if level or pitched back to the source, but pitched toward the vent end will leave some water inside.... and it only takes a little bit of water to make a LOT of noise.
My radiators take turn and then become a symphony of gruesome loud banging and clanking noises with a hissing as a finale. I’m tired of it! Not even leveling fixes this issue for me. Help!
Karen Vidal Get central air.
Check water level in boiler
I found this video to be helpful as well: th-cam.com/video/SKARwkGT3kQ/w-d-xo.html
Earplugs
Two pipe system? If so the correction is not covered in this video.
Is this chicago??
The pipes in my room that goes to the radiators make a boiling noise. I don't think it's the same problem as this one. Anyone have any suggestions
Thank you, you guys are awesome
I got some noise , whistling from my radiator?
Great video! Does a steam vent need to be straight up or can I move it sideways or even upside down?
Inside-out works best. I swear.
Upside down it won’t let steam in
I have a radiator like this but it only has one big knob and does not have an air vent.When I put the heat on It gets extremely hot no matter what way I turn the knob it get's so hot it makes you leave the room.Not sure who I call to fix it because its from the 1920s.
the “ knob” is not a shut off valve...turn one way it aligns a small hole, less heat, the other way the larger hole..more heat..
The prob with tape is one you could cover the hole on your air vent and two you could cross thread bc there a fine thread better off with a little dope! Usually rich would use a nice pair of channel locks on that chrome valve to really give it that worn look ha
What makes the air valve open again after the radiator cools down ?
Vacuum
Richard will be back to replace those plastic shims with something that will not melt and sink when those radiator feet get hot.
Bi… Radiator temp maxes out around 200 degrees, wood burns at 451 degrees, those furniture thingies (leg cups) are probably made of a hard rubber or coated metal, which will be fine because the legs will much cooler than the top side of the radiator and will never see the heat because heat rises. Matter of fact you could put carpet or drapes against that radiator and not worry out melting or catching fire, although the heat may cause long term deterioration.
Thank you!
Kaveh I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Great videos, for the love of God please turn up the master audio volume about 10db
Man I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
My plumber tried all these but it's still banging. Any ideas?
Replace the radiator vent valve, open the radiator supply valve further. Check for level radiator.
Lower the water level in the boiler, new water replacement valve. Check that all horizontal steam pipes are sloped correctly.
Good job
At this old house, we keep old floors.
Thank you for the info.
Best way is to convert it to water system. But you need two pipes for that.
What if the radiator gets hot, but no air going through the vent?
They only vent at first, once they get hot they stop venting. It's working! 😉
Why arent those radiators connected to wall?
Why should they be?
That floor though... and the valve needed to be replaced. Surprised he didnt swap that while he had it off.
That is a tough job, and you can really open a can of worms, things can go south! Not impossible, but you have to be prepared. Most HVAC guys don't carry those angle valves on their trucks anymore.
Thanks, but what about HISSING??
Then there must be a snake somewhere in your house.
Richard should never have used that pipe wrench on that union. It galls up the union flats.
So what do you use?
@@jeffstone2585 an adjustable (flat/smooth surface) wrench
The segment needed to be a bit longer. Like showing the banging noise at the beginning and testing it before he leaves to make sure the problem was gone.
mine got fixed without taking anything aprt,so this is not helping.
Moe is strong, moved 200lb radiator like a cake. Must be annoyed with this radiator alot)
hey customer give me a hand lol
Its my first time in united states i just wanna now if i can put a sofa close to the radiator or not
Stephanie Maldonado the one end of my sofa is touching my radiator for twenty years now. It’s ok.
Stephanie I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
I like how the plumber asked him to remove the vent at the end because he knew it might break and didnt want to take the blame. Very smart.
He probably asked just to involve the client.
Clients are usually understanding if something old breaks, whether they do it or you do it. If it does, it's just a matter of being honest and coming up with a reasonable pricing/solution.
The worst is electronic control boards. The nightmares I have had.
Neil I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Should have put pipe dope on the union
hi can i replace radiator with baseboard heating
why would you want to do that?
No.
Could the knocking sound be coming from an improper bleeder valve?
My grandparents have a radiator were the steam pipe goes vertical into the center of the radiator. They recently had a leaking pipe. And ever since the plumber came and redid the pipe.,It's been making the knocking sound. The vertical pipe that connects to another pipe seems slightly angled so I don't think it's water buildup. That's why I'm thinking maybe it's that bleeder valve, maybe it's the wrong one. I hear the valve hiss I know it works fine...but maybe its wrong type idk
HELP! why all my water drained minutes after I filled my steam boiler?
hi plaуyyyеrs I just found a good website which gives уou freeе_steam_wallet_card_с0des twitter.com/b9de7d4e9173cad9b/status/719079525670395904 How to Quiеt a Banging Steam Raaaаdiator This Оld House
Cvetan Kalinov yeah good one
check your hartford loop aka wet return and also check your and see if your boiler isnt cracked inspect inside the flue and around the floor of signs of leak hope that helps but always get a service tech too look at it. a dry boiler can cause a fire.
if your losing water that quickly with no sign of where it’s going..best to call a EXPERIENCED plumber..OR you’re Making more steam then the fill valve can keep up with...highly unlikely ! DONT mess with a steam boiler if you don’t know what you’re doing...
any idea where Richard got those shims from? I'm going nuts looking for something like that and cannot find them anywhere!
+Rich D - He called them "furniture coasters" and "furniture pads". Try Googling or Home Depot search that.
You're not looking very hard. Every hardware store has them.
come on had the unit disconnected why not move it out of the way assess the damage and determine where leak is and fix it or at a minimum clean the floor and mention thoses things but going to install the shims first just for recording then come back and fix the problem before it snowballs..
seem so simple i wish radiators job would take 4.57 min
u can encounter with soooo many problems.
“Nothing else needs to be done”
“This feed valve looks like it has been leaking for a long time”
- doesn’t change the feed valve -_-
I raised my radiator but now it’s louder I think I need to relearn it
you raised the wrong end. lol.
$400 please XD
No! Are you crazy!? He's supposed to fix your problem, provide and install an air vent for free, fuel his truck for free, pay for truck repairs & maintenance free of charge, get his tools for free, pay his accountants with peanuts, get his computer from the landfill, pirate his software, and live in a cardboard box under the bridge, so he can charge you $20.
To be honest, I would have charged about CDN$315 + tax for a job like this. Although if it is something simple, I usually prefer the customer do it rather than having to drive out to do it.
On the next This Old House......watch Richard give CPR to the neighbor below that was struck by a radiator falling through the damaged floor.
Why put a junk, made in Taiwan, vent valve on the radiator instead of a Hoffman # 40 Richard?...
that flooring needs fixing. so damp and moldy.
Huh. I was always taught that the radiator needed a slight pitch toward the draining end to insure the condensate flowed downward. Every radiator guy I've ever asked has confirmed that.
AbsentWithoutLeaving… Believe it or not, being level at the top of the radiator is enough to solve the problem. IOW, it's already accounted for in the design of the radiator and will allow things to drain back to the source.
This is a 1 line fed system, there is no trap and return line. So the feed line here is also the return
@@LorenzKamo… The proper plumbing term "single pipe steam system" tells it all to those who work on them. There were VERY few problems when installed properly... and only a few rules to follow when doing repairs, but that goes beyond the scope of discussion here.
@@rupe53 which goes back to making sure it is pitched correctly. Steam rises, condensate drips down. So OP is correct.
@@LorenzKamo.. If "OP" means one pipe, then yes. Either one pipe or single pipe is correct. I never confuse the issue by mixing in the word fed or feed, because that tends to make people think there should also be a return, which there isn't in a single pipe system. The beauty of the system is the steam goes to the radiator and once the auto-vent gets hot it stops the flow and the radiator is allowed to cool slightly. The cooling creates condensation, which drips / flows back to the boiler. If the t-stat still wants heat then it repeats in a few minutes to maintain a hot radiator till the house is warm enough.
we like loud boys
Dont by chinese made air vents ! Rich by American ! The vent he put in is garbage !
Omg,,, we can actually buy a part that’s made in the USA? Are you sure you won’t have to buy an antique? Lol
@@wetdewlap8741 Gorton Radiator Valves are manufactured where they always have been, in Cranford, NJ.
www.gorton-valves.com/products
Can you come to my apartment? 😊😊
Those hardwood floors are disgusting.
Do you want to lick them?
Hacker.
Half a Job .
Finish the repairs.