| Author |
Message |
    
Keywest
Citizen
Username: Keywest
Post Number: 143
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 12:03 pm: | 
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Alright, I know that this has probably been mentioned before but here it goes..digital thermostat set at 64 to go on at 5:ooam by 6:00am my upstairs bedroom temp is 70!!! I am going to die with this heat (steam)..what can I do besides lowering it even more? |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2363
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 12:54 pm: |
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I have the same prob. Our kid's upstairs room is always boiling. Our upstairs bedroom mostly OK. Downstairs, fine to chilly. Must be a way to adjust these ancient steam thingies, but I don't know what it is... |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1134
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 1:03 pm: |
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There's a few things, actually. First, look for drafts in the room near the thermostat - if you've got an arctic breeze blowing through the living room, the thermostat will fire the boiler all the time... leaving upstairs very toasty!
Second, you need to investigate 'balancing' the radiators. It sounds like (after the draft issue is resolved) you may need to slow down your upstairs radiators (or speed up your downstairs ones!). This is accomplished through the use of air vents.
There's a great website that can help with this topic:
http://www.gorton-valves.com/specify.htm
http://www.heatinghelp.com/
Post questions here - you don't have a serious issue, I promise!
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themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2556
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 3:24 pm: |
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I have the same problem. We have all slant fin on first floor, all radiators on second, which I think contributes. Also, we have no air valves in the basement on the pipes. How hard is it to add valves? How important is it? |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1142
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 3:53 pm: |
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Where is Master Plvmber when we need him? 
All I know is single-pipe steam systems... and even that is a stretch; I know a few things about these systems.
I believe you are talking about an 'air eliminator' on the pipes.... on my system, it sits close to the boiler and is brass-colored.
According to the Gorton website (see above) you can put a #1 eliminator at the beginning of the run, and a #2 at the end (or is it the other way around?). Regardless, I only have a #1 eliminator... though I do want to replace it; it hasn't been touched in years and years, I'm sure.
Getting back to adding valves (or air eliminators, I guess)... are you sure there's not an existing port for you to screw into? You would need to remove the existing plug, of course.
It sounds like a job for a plumber to look at, quite frankly. Check out gateway plumbing for starters.... |
Richard Kessler
Citizen
Username: Richiekess
Post Number: 101
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 5:27 pm: |
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we had a very similar problem, had a key downstairs slantfin replaced with a standard radiator and had the system balanced, now the upstairs and downstairs are pretty darn close. Gateway did it for us... |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 476
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:02 pm: |
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First of all, I'll say it again...I hate setback with steam.
Keywest, a good balancing is probably going to set you straight. After that, a cleaning, check of your pressure, firing rate and venting will reveal where this serious imbalance is coming from.
Then you can fix it using smarts instead of the trial and error method.
Themp, I hope you have a zoned circulating hot water heating system and not steam with that "slant fin" stuff.
If you do, you need an air vent somewhere.
If you don't, you still need an air vent somewhere but they're different kinds.
Master Plvmber |
Keywest
Citizen
Username: Keywest
Post Number: 144
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 6:26 pm: |
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Thanks Master Plumber...I will give you guys a call.. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1185
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 11:49 pm: |
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I don't how how it's possible physics-wise, but we have the opposite problem. Our upstairs is always much colder than our downstairs. Any and all insight is welcome. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 481
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 7:26 am: |
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See above.
Master Plvmber |
Keywest
Citizen
Username: Keywest
Post Number: 145
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 1:22 pm: |
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Master Plumber,
I should also mention that we have a two-pipe system (gas - steam) and have no valves to even change the flow to each room/floor. This is our first winter in the house. We had a single-pipe steam system before and it was easier to regulate/balance because we had the valves on the radiators.
Question then is how to balance a two-pipe system.
Thank you !!! |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 482
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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Depending on the type of two-pipe system it is, there are either orifices (small disks with holes in them) set into the radiator or there are regulating valves on the supply pipe.
There are other, modern methods of regulating a two-pipe system, but that's another conversation.
Master Plvmber |
Keywest
Citizen
Username: Keywest
Post Number: 147
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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Thanks MP, will give you a call. |
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