steam radiator valve for hot water heat

chickenbrown

chickenbrown

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My house was converted to hot water heat from steam. All of it was re-piped in 3/4" copper including two original cast iron radiators in the foyer. These two are connected properly in the loop but they used a steam angle valve on both the supply and return. Probably to enable removal of the radiator with out draining down the system. My question is: Will these valves restrict the flow of the circulator pump? I don't know the name of these valves. They are not gate valves or another type that would allow water flow unrestricted. The spindle, attached to a rubber washer wiggles like its loose. The valves are new, not original but i am pretty sure they are the wrong type.
 
chickenbrown said:
My house was converted to hot water heat from steam. All of it was re-piped in 3/4" copper including two original cast iron radiators in the foyer. These two are connected properly in the loop but they used a steam angle valve on both the supply and return. Probably to enable removal of the radiator with out draining down the system. My question is: Will these valves restrict the flow of the circulator pump? I don't know the name of these valves. They are not gate valves or another type that would allow water flow unrestricted. The spindle, attached to a rubber washer wiggles like its loose. The valves are new, not original but i am pretty sure they are the wrong type.
Click to expand...

When you say loop are you talking about a loop system? What type of radiation is in the rest of the house? If it is copper fin baseboard the two should not be mixed unless they are on separate zones. One valve is all that is needed on each radiators. There should be no washers in hot water valves.

John
 
valves

The difference between a steam valve and a hot water valve, is that the hot water valve has a small bypass opening which allows a small amount of circulation to occur even when the valve is closed. This is to ensure that the radiator always has a little heat to it so it does not freeze. There is no real problem with using a steam valve for hot water, but you cannot use a hot water valve for steam heating. The steam valve WILL shut off the flow entirely so the radiator could be removed, which would not be possible if they had used hot water valves.
 
johnjh2o1 said:
When you say loop are you talking about a loop system? What type of radiation is in the rest of the house? If it is copper fin baseboard the two should not be mixed unless they are on separate zones. One valve is all that is needed on each radiators. There should be no washers in hot water valves.

John
Click to expand...

cast iron baseboard. right about one valve but this is existing.

thanks
 
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