redditorium t1_irlgbr6 wrote on October 9, 2022 at 4:02 AM

Reply to comment by mule_roany_mare in Your annual reminder that if your apartment has a radiator, don't open and close the valve. This can create condensation in the system causing a knocking sound. Radiators are designed to be used with a series of open windows to balance heat. by emeyer94

> If you want to turn off your radiator & don't have access to the valve (or you just got it to stop leaking & don't want to mess with it) you can just cover the valve with tape. After a cycle or two your radiator will only have room for trivial amounts of steam.

Is this also true for two pipe radiators?

mule_roany_mare t1_irlmilu wrote on October 9, 2022 at 5:09 AM

Probably, I don't see why it wouldn't work. If you have a vent for air plugging it will trap air. If air is trapped a minimal amount of steam will get in.

I also don't see any risk for damage, but I've never even seen 2 pipe steam in person.

I know about one pipe steam because I've had to fix 20 problems with my 120+ year old building.

--_-_ t1_irmw16q wrote on October 9, 2022 at 2:08 PM

If you have a two pipe system you're better off just shutting the valves. Two pipe valves are designed to be used repeatedly and to be partially closed to throttle the heat. If you see multiple valves, only touch the one that's closest to your radiator on the steam supply side, though. That one is the one for you to use, the others are just to isolate the radiator for repairs and will probably start leaking if you wear out the seals by repeated use.