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Message |
    
Trent_Daddy
Citizen
Username: Tcedwards
Post Number: 194
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 3:20 pm: | 
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Hello,
Fast question. I am considering turning off the radiator on my third floor (the attic). If I did that will the mean more pressure to start the warming process sooner to the radiator in the same virtual run (on the second floor)? In other words, what type of side affects should I expect.
TD |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 974
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 3:25 pm: |
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best bet is to leave it on, and reduce the vent to a smaller size, thus releasing less steam. Turning the radiator off entirely will likely result in unpredictable side effects throughout the rest of the house, for reasons only the steam can explain. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 542
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:13 pm: |
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One problem with turning off the radiator is depriving that portion of the system of that radiator's air vent.
I usually recommend adding a vent to the riser piping before eliminating any vented portions.
Master Plvmber |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 459
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:15 pm: |
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I agree and also the room you leave cold may end up having moisture / condensation issues, and turning it off is also unlikely to save you any money, if that's what you're after.
Even changing the vent size will have side effects in the system, though they shouldn't be as pronounced.
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J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:58 am: |
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Part of the answer (and resulting effects) depends on what type of steam system you have. All the answers provided so far are 'not wrong', but it might help (as wnb posed) to better understand what your actual goal is. If you want the 2nd floor radiator to warm-up quicker, well, it might.... but that depends on the rest of the overall system. There could be ways to force that effect, though probably requiring modification to that line/radiator somehow (at some cost & time). If you really want to save money (per wnb), shutting off or reducing steam to one radiator will do nothing.
Now, I am not a plumber, nor heating specialist by any means, but I do have a steam system myself and can offer my personal experience only. I have shut off one radiator in a room that has two (same branch, I think) - to reduce heat in that room- five years ago and have had NO adverse effects on the total system that I can see/hear/know of (18 total radiators). At the very least, what you should not do is attempt to reduce steam flow to that radiator by slightly closing it's valve. That will/may cause to 'unbalance' the overall system, but more directly will damage to that radiator valve over time. I'm not sure that reducing flow through it (altering the vent size) is advisable, because that will affect the total system's balance. Personally, I suggest either close it off (and vent the riser as needed, per master plumber) or leave it on full.
Lastly, you might want to check this website, and maybe even pose your question to that forum. The participants are incredibly helpful, knowledgable and courteous.
http://www.heatinghelp.com/ |
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