Great video! I've never worked on radiators before. Although I had a general idea, I didn't know *exactly* what was going on inside that valve. After seeing this video with the valve cut in half, I do! Now I know it's the packing that is leaking, and hopefully, I can stop the leak by opening the valve all the way. Thanks for making this video!
Helpful video. My very old radiator valve was recently shooting steam from the stem and my plumber came and replaced the packing. Now the steam stops venting from the stem, but the radiator now barely heats up at all…like the valve is now closed entirely even though it’s wide open. Any thinking on why packing replacement could affect the ability for steam to enter the radator?
maybe the internal gasket broke and is blocking the pipe. you could remove the air vent on the radiator to see, if there is steam. maybe the vent is clogged?
I'm having issues with banging and water coming out of air valve. What's it mean when the stem does not go up or down when closing or opening the valve? I'm assuming its just partially open and causing all the issues. What can i do?
Thanks, this is great and helpful! What is the blue packing material around the stem? Can you provide an Amazon link for that? I want to fix my packing.
Great video thanks. My radiator valves leak between the valve and radiator. The seal does not hold and pushes water out. What can be done to remedy this?
Good video. The description how the steam radiator operate and how it is damage is very reviling. If I am correct that gate valve (usually use for flow control). Why the industry used steam flow regulation in singe pipe steam radiator? It might have much more sense in dual pipe radiators.In single pipe steam radiator flow (temperature )is regulated by pressure steam valve. There is now way to adjust temperature by adjusting the steam flow with this valve in single pipe radiator (what people usually trying to do that). You can totally open valve or totally close. If you partial open the water will condense in radiator and eventually leak by pressure valve. They should use different type of valve , may be ball valve or something.
I bought a 1/4" thick 12"x12" sheet of made in the USA 70 durometer high temp silicone and I am going to make new circular gaskets for my old valves with the wood handles like the ones in your video. My house is from 1901 so I wonder if they may be original. These old valves do not leak steam and move up and down nicely but they to not fully seal when closed. I have two newer ProFlow brass steam valves and they did not last long at all. The plastic handle stripped/cracked on one and the other does not fully seal when closed.
Shwalker07 sounds great, as long as you are able to unscrew the nut on the stem. You need to make sure, that your new gasket stays in place at 100°C Not sure if silicon is hard enough at that temp?
I gotta tackle this project in the early spring time once it gets warmer. I am learning more about this but at 70 durometer it is about the same hardness as a shopping cart wheel. When I received this sheet, it is hard with just a tad bit flexibility. I originally thought silicone would be too soft to seal but the higher the durometer rating the harder is it. Thanks again for your informative videos.
Thanks for the quick reply. That is a good point, probably should just replace the whole thing. I assume there isn't anything else that would be making the radiators get hot/gurgle when I have the valve closed?
Hmmmmmm.... I'm at a loss. I'm in a 10 unit condo complex. It is sooo hot it our unit, we don't need to turn our radiators on at all (which I assume is probably part of the problem). With the valve closed, we still get noise, not banging but a lighter consistent noise
I think so. Worse case scenario is that the rubber gasket breaks, then you would have trouble closing the valve. If all goes bad, you get a new valve at supplyhouse dot com
Great video. This clears up some of the mysteries of steam heat. Thank you.
Great video! I've never worked on radiators before. Although I had a general idea, I didn't know *exactly* what was going on inside that valve. After seeing this video with the valve cut in half, I do! Now I know it's the packing that is leaking, and hopefully, I can stop the leak by opening the valve all the way. Thanks for making this video!
Awesome video, thx!
Love the illustration with the valve cut in half. Very helpful
super awesome video. i live in a condo in NYC where the heat is unbearable, my valve doesnt close, i now know why!
Great explanation my friend 💪 just quick question - will these old valves work without rubber seal at the bottom?
Yes, when you have the valve 100% open, as you should. You won't be able to close it, that would cause problems.
Excellent video! Very well explained and fun to watch.
Excellent, break-down. Thank you for posting.
Can someone tell me what to use for the packing? Very good video by the way. The valve cut in half is great to understand how it works.
Local hardware stores usually have packing rope for cheap.
Helpful video. My very old radiator valve was recently shooting steam from the stem and my plumber came and replaced the packing. Now the steam stops venting from the stem, but the radiator now barely heats up at all…like the valve is now closed entirely even though it’s wide open. Any thinking on why packing replacement could affect the ability for steam to enter the radator?
maybe the internal gasket broke and is blocking the pipe. you could remove the air vent on the radiator to see, if there is steam. maybe the vent is clogged?
I'm having issues with banging and water coming out of air valve. What's it mean when the stem does not go up or down when closing or opening the valve? I'm assuming its just partially open and causing all the issues. What can i do?
Turn off the boiler, and then you could take the top off the valve and look inside, then you know what is wrong.
Thanks, this is great and helpful! What is the blue packing material around the stem? Can you provide an Amazon link for that? I want to fix my packing.
thank you! It's a very well put video! Know I can try to fix my own radiators :)
Great video thanks. My radiator valves leak between the valve and radiator. The seal does not hold and pushes water out. What can be done to remedy this?
just replace the valve. the new valve comes with all the parts you need to fix that issue.
Excellent video! Thanks
Great video,thank you ,well done.
This video was EXCELLENT!! Thank you!!
Great video. Thank you so much!
Good video. The description how the steam radiator operate and how it is damage is very reviling.
If I am correct that gate valve (usually use for flow control). Why the industry used steam flow regulation in singe pipe steam radiator? It might have much more sense in dual pipe radiators.In single pipe steam radiator flow (temperature )is regulated by pressure steam valve. There is now way to adjust temperature by adjusting the steam flow with this valve in single pipe radiator (what people usually trying to do that). You can totally open valve or totally close. If you partial open the water will condense in radiator and eventually leak by pressure valve. They should use different type of valve , may be ball valve or something.
Great video,as usual. Someone once told me the washers were made of leather.I don't know if that is true or not.
I heard that too, and in one of my pipes i found half of a seat packing, and it was as hard as rock. But in the new valves i bought it was rubber.
Is there a reason no use ball valve to shut off the inlet pipe on a single pipe steam system?
more expensive
I bought a 1/4" thick 12"x12" sheet of made in the USA 70 durometer high temp silicone and I am going to make new circular gaskets for my old valves with the wood handles like the ones in your video. My house is from 1901 so I wonder if they may be original. These old valves do not leak steam and move up and down nicely but they to not fully seal when closed.
I have two newer ProFlow brass steam valves and they did not last long at all. The plastic handle stripped/cracked on one and the other does not fully seal when closed.
Shwalker07 sounds great, as long as you are able to unscrew the nut on the stem. You need to make sure, that your new gasket stays in place at 100°C Not sure if silicon is hard enough at that temp?
I gotta tackle this project in the early spring time once it gets warmer. I am learning more about this but at 70 durometer it is about the same hardness as a shopping cart wheel. When I received this sheet, it is hard with just a tad bit flexibility. I originally thought silicone would be too soft to seal but the higher the durometer rating the harder is it.
Thanks again for your informative videos.
You could boil a piece in hot water, and then see how soft it gets. Good luck with your project!
If the valve is stuck, should it be lubricated with something before attempting to loosen with a wrench?
Phil "FLY" Zuckerman Music you don’t want to contaminate the boiler water with anything like oil. I would say no to anything other than heat perhaps.
@@mygiguser Thank you for your quick reply!!
Where can I buy those 2" valves?
i found them at Menards, and they have them at piping companies, Amazon, and i usually order at supplyhouse dot com
@@mygiguser The outer diameter of my pipe going to the valve is about 2". What valve size I should get?
Excellent video!
Thanks!
Can you replace that gasket? I have steam radiators that when turned off, still are partially heating up.
If the thread and the nut are still good, then yes. Question is where to buy the gasket. I think it would be easier to just replace the whole valve.
Thanks for the quick reply. That is a good point, probably should just replace the whole thing. I assume there isn't anything else that would be making the radiators get hot/gurgle when I have the valve closed?
Nick Patrick i wouldn’t expect any noise when the valve is completely closed.
Hmmmmmm.... I'm at a loss. I'm in a 10 unit condo complex. It is sooo hot it our unit, we don't need to turn our radiators on at all (which I assume is probably part of the problem). With the valve closed, we still get noise, not banging but a lighter consistent noise
Nick Patrick maybe the valve doesn’t close all the way.
Thanks!
Thank you very much
My valve is stuck shut. No heat. I'm cold. Can I just take a wrench and force it open?
I think so. Worse case scenario is that the rubber gasket breaks, then you would have trouble closing the valve.
If all goes bad, you get a new valve at supplyhouse dot com
Where can I buy new pecking
Hardware store
I'm getting heat, but it hisses and doesn't stop hissing.
then the small airvalve on the other side of the radiator doesnt close
@@mygiguser it's hissing from the steam radiator valve
👍🇺🇸