You likely have old-fashioned radiators if you live in an older building and know just how disruptive they can be with frequent hissing and clunking noises. Most buildings are steam-heated, which implies that water in the underground is heated by a boiler and circulated to dwellings as steam through a network of robust, cast iron radiators. And not only are they loud, but very easily they can get very hot, or worse, not switch on at all. You can control the temperature manually if you have a thermostat mounted. If not, you are at the discretion of your building management.
1. 6 things you need to
know about steam
radiator
Prepared by Brandwide
2. TABLE OF
CONTENTS
MAIN TOPICS
• Knowing the importance of knob on
the radiator
• Installing a valve to control the heat
• Bleeding the steam radiator
• Covering up the radiator
• Replacing the radiators
• Dealing with the heat
3. OVERVIEW
You likely have old-fashioned radiators if you live in an older building
and know just how disruptive they can be with frequent hissing and
clunking noises. Most buildings are steam-heated, which implies that
water in the underground is heated by a boiler and circulated to
dwellings as steam through a network of robust, cast iron radiators.
4. KNOWING THE
IMPORTANCE OF KNOB ON
THE RADIATOR
A lot of people erroneously assume that while it's really just
an on-off turn, the circular knob on a steam radiator controls
temperature. Usually, you rotate the knob clockwise to turn
off the heat, all the way counter-clockwise to turn on the
heat. It shouldn't make any crashing noises if the radiator is
off.
5. INSTALLING A VALVE TO
CONTROL THE HEAT
Hot water supply systems have a much wider range of
temperatures than most steam systems with low pressure.
Only at 212 Fahrenheit, the equivalent to 100 Celsius, may
steam systems run. You'll have to add a thermostatic radiator
valve on each radiator to do so if you want to monitor the
amount of heat your radiator produces in a steam system.
6. BLEEDING THE STEAM
RADIATOR
If your heat is on but the radiator remains ice cold, air may
be trapped inside and heat may not be able to circulate. If
that is the case, you might need the device to bleed. Loud
noises, a banging sound, is also an indicator that your
radiator needs to bleed.
7. COVERING UP THE
RADIATOR
You can either spray it or put a cover on to conceal it if
your steam radiator looks like it could use some prettying
up. There are firms that can custom-design coverings in
either metal or wood if you're looking to camouflage your
radiators.
8. REPLACING THE RADIATORS
For co-op owners, replacing their huge, cast-iron
radiators with smaller, stylish ones is not unusual. If you
want to fully remove your radiators, make sure you keep
them secure somewhere so that when you are ready to
sell your apartment, you can reactivate them.
9. DEALING WITH THE HEAT
You can have to come up with some innovative ideas if
your apartment is too hot, even with the radiators closed.
One recommendation is to place fiber glass pipe covers
around your pipes inexpensively. This prevents the heat
from contributing to the temperature of the pipework in
the apartment.
10. CONTACT US!
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
Telephone
914-352-4822
Email
info@ritetempnyc.com
Website
www.ritetempnyc.com