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radiator knocking — Brooklynian

radiator knocking

cjyabraham
cjyabraham
edited November -1 in BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)

Hi,

I have recently moved into the top floor apartment in an old brownstone. My apartment has two radiators which I believe are steam powered. they have one pipe going into them and have outlet valves that hiss. They are tipped on the far end to angle towards the valve and heat the room well.

One of these radiators emits intermittant knocks, every few minutes, at the beginning of the heating cycle. It's as if someone is hitting it with a hammer. Once the hissing starts the knocks subside. It's a pain because it is hard to sleep through.

Does anyone have any ideas what can be done to resolve this? I also tried switching off the radiator while sleeping but the knocks still occur. It almost sounds like switching off the radiator doesn't work as I still hear stuff going on inside the radiator though don't get any heat from it during that time.

Is this something that could be resolved or does one just have to live with this sort of thing?

Thanks,

Chris

Comments

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    Sounds like the radiator needs to be bled. Talk to your landlord and ask if s/he will do it, or if its okay if you get someone to do it yourself. It may not solve the problem completely but it should make it a lot less noisy, especially since you say this occurs only until the steam starts rising.

  • cjyabraham
    cjyabraham

    Hi Homeowner. Thanks for the reply. I thought steam radiators didn't need bleeding?

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    I may be using the wrong terminology. The knocking is from condensed water not returning in the system. A plumber will need to check it out. He may raise the angle of the radiator to tip more water towards the valve or change the valve if that's the problem, but unless the water gets out of there, the knocking will continue.

  • idlewild
    idlewild

    Do you keep your valve in a full open position? If not, try it. Valves on steam or hot water radiators are meant to be fully open or fully closed. You may want to ask the other tenants the same thing. Just as an FYI, when you bleed a hot water radiator, it's usually to get the air bubble/s out of the system so the hot water can heat the radiators. The possible causes, for both types, can be anything from a bad circulator to not enough pressure. Even an under powered boiler.

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    My experience in older BK townhouses is that the pipes need to be bled usually once a season.

    Doesn't get rid of the knocking but certainly helps.

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