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How to Change the Steam Vent on a Radiator

L4d, Radiators

So you bought your first home and it came with an old radiator heating system. You do know how to maintain it, right?

If your steam radiators haven’t been cleaned and maintained in a while, one of the first things you’ll want to check is the steam vent. This cheap part can easily be replaced, but if it malfunctions it can cause a lot of problems.

What is a Steam Vent?

The steam vent is that metal thing on the end of the radiator. It has a hole in it, and it usually whistles – hopefully not too loudly – as your radiator heats up.

The vent is designed to allow for a controlled release of gas from the radiator. As the radiator fills up with steam, the vent lets the air that is already in the radiator leave. Once that air is gone, the vent is closed by the steam’s pressure, and the steam is held in the radiator.

If the radiator can’t efficiently flush this air out, it won’t be able to fill with steam. Thus a vent that works too slowly will prevent your radiator from heating fully, and a blocked vent may stop the radiator from heating at all.

Where Do I Get a Steam Vents?

Luckily, steam vents are fairly cheap and they’re readily available at your local hardware store. Both Home Depot and Lowes carry a selection of steam vents, and they typically cost around $10. The vents are probably located in the “Heating” or “Plumbing” section of the store.

When you go shopping for a steam vent, you’ll probably notice that they come in a few varieties – and they’ll look almost identical. The difference between the sizes (commonly 6, 5, 4, D, and C) is the size of the hole. This determines how quickly the air vents.

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Depending on the location of your radiator and the size of your steam heating system, you’ll need a slightly different size. Jacobus – the maker of Maid o Mist steam vents – has an explanation and illustration of the various sizes on its site. Most of your radiators will need a size 5, while the radiators at the ends of the system may need a size 6.

Remove the Old Steam Vent

First, you should close the valve on your radiator that lets steam in. You don’t want the radiator to start filling up while you’re working on it!

Grab the steam vent firmly. You might want to use a hand towel to get a good grip. Apply steady pressure as you turn it counter-clockwise. Be careful not to jerk it – you don’t want to break the thin stem off the vent and get it stuck inside your radiator.

If you can’t unscrew the vent by hand, you can try using a large pair of pliers. They’ll help you get a better grip, but be gentle as you turn the vent.

Preparing the New Steam Vent

Before you screw the new vent on, you should apply some Teflon tape to its thread. This will ensure a tight seal and prevent water and steam from leaking out of the connection.

Rip off a piece of Teflon tape and wrap it around the threads two or three times. Don’t apply too much Teflon tape, or the vent may not be able to screw back into the radiator.

Screw the Steam Vent Into the Radiator

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Line the steam vent up with the radiator and gently screw it in. Don’t try to overtighten it – hand tight is plenty good!

When you’re done make sure that the top of the vent is pointing straight up. This is crucial to making sure that the mechanism inside the steam vent works properly.

Observe and Adjust

With your new steam vent in place, your radiators will be able to work more effectively. However, you should monitor them to make sure that you’re using the best size of steam vent.

If you find that the radiator is heating up too quickly, switch to a slower vent (a lower number). This will slow down the expulsion of air from the radiator and slow down its heating. Conversely, if it heats up too slow try switching to a quicker vent (a higher number).

When you find the right size, enjoy your properly functioning heat!

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