Posted by Joel on December 26, 2000 at 11:51:21:
In Reply to: Re: Spitting Radiator posted by Janice on December 26, 2000 at 11:15:16:
: : : Hello.
: : : Why would radiator spit water when it's working? It happens only with one radiator in a house. How can
: : : I stop it?
: : : Janice
: : Janice,
: : Do you have hot water or steam heat?
: It is a one-pipe steam heat.
Janice:
As you may already know, the air vent on a steam radiator is supposed to let air in and out, while keeping the steam in. It's my understanding that dirt in a steam system, even small particles, can lodge in an air vent. This prevents it from closing completely when the radiator gets warm. The steam can then escape through the vent when it doesn't fully close. Dirt can originate from corrosion within the radiator or other parts of the system, then the steam pushes it through to the vent. Or it can come from mineral deposits that result from the mineral content of the water supply to the boiler.
Cleaning the entire system by a professonal is the most comprehensive answer. A simpler, short term solution might be to just close the radiator valve, take off the offending vent and carefully clean it out or replace it with a new one.