Steam heat
What your steam system is telling you
A steam system complains in plain ways. These are the usual complaints and the usual causes; we check each before we suggest a part.
Banging in the pipes
Water has pooled in a pipe that sags or is pitched the wrong way, and the steam is pushing it along.
One radiator stays cold
The vent has stopped letting air out, or the valve at the radiator is half shut.
A vent that hisses all the time
A worn vent is letting steam into the room instead of holding it, which wastes heat.
The boiler shuts itself off
The water is low, or the low-water cutoff is dirty and reads it wrong.
A leak at a radiator valve
The packing nut has dried out, or the valve itself has worn through and needs replacing.
Some rooms heat first, others late
Vents are sized differently from room to room. Balancing them evens the house out.
Before anything else
If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds
This comes ahead of any heating question.
- Leave the house now, with everyone in it.
- Call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
- Do not switch lights or the thermostat on or off.
- Call us afterward, once the utility says it is safe to go back in.
Which system is it
One pipe or two
Look at the radiator. A pipe at the bottom on one side only means one-pipe steam. A pipe on each side means two-pipe, or hot water.
One-pipe systems are common in Hartford's older houses, and they are forgiving if the radiators stay pitched toward the pipe. Two-pipe steam and hot water each have their own parts. If you are unsure, text us a photo.
What to send us
Photo of the radiator valve and its vent
Photo of the boiler and its gauge glass
Questions about steam
Can steam heat be changed to hot water?
Sometimes, but it is a large job: new pipes, new radiators or valves, and a different boiler. Most houses we see do better keeping steam and fixing what is wrong with it.
Is steam heat wasteful?
A steam system in good order heats well. Waste usually comes from vents that leak steam, pipes without insulation in cold spaces and a boiler that has not been cleaned.
How often should I look at the water in the boiler?
The gauge glass is the one to watch. Your boiler's manual says how often to check it and how to add water. If you are not sure, we show you at the first visit.
Can I cover my radiators?
A cover that leaves the top and front open is fine. One that boxes the radiator in holds the heat inside the cover instead of the room.
Should I add a new vent myself?
Vents are matched to each radiator. A wrong vent can leave a room cold or push steam into it, so we choose them to fit.
Describe it and we will tell you where to start
Say what you hear and which rooms are cold. We reply on the next working day.