Services
Radiators, vents and steam piping
Most cold apartments in a steam building start in the pipes and vents, not in the boiler.
We replace vents and traps, reset the pitch of pipes that sag, insulate mains and risers, and balance the system so steam reaches the far apartments at about the same time.
Signs you need it
Hissing that never stops, or a vent that spits water
Radiators that heat at the top only, or not at all
Banging when the heat comes on
The first floor hot and the top floor cold
Pipes in the basement with no insulation
A radiator that leaks at the valve
The visit
What happens at the visit
- 01
Step 1: We walk the building
Basement mains first, then the risers and a sample of radiators on each floor.
- 02
Step 2: We find the low points
A level, a long look at the pipe and a note of where water collects.
- 03
Step 3: We test the vents and traps
Main vents, radiator vents and, on two-pipe systems, the traps.
- 04
Step 4: You get the estimate in writing
Which parts, which pipes and which apartments, with what each line covers.
- 05
Step 5: We do the work and balance the system
We run the boiler and check each floor again, from the nearest radiator to the farthest.
Cost
What drives the cost
We don't print prices here. These are the things that move the number, and the estimate lists each one that applies.
How many vents and valves
Each radiator may need a new vent, and each shut valve may need a new packing or a new valve.
Pipe length and floors
A long main or a tall riser takes more time to reset.
Access
Pipes in a finished ceiling or behind a wall are slower than pipes in the basement.
Insulation
The amount of pipe to wrap and the material it needs.
Asbestos
Old pipe covering may contain asbestos. We stop and say so, and it is handled by a licensed abatement contractor, not by us.
Heat season
Work in a cold building in January is planned differently from work in July.
Questions
Questions about this work
Why do my radiators knock?
Water is trapped in a pipe that sags, or a valve is half open. We find the low point and reset the pitch.
Can I replace a radiator vent myself?
Many owners do. The vent has to match the radiator and the system, so ask us which size, or have us do it on a visit.
Do you cover pipes with new insulation?
Yes. Insulation on mains and risers keeps heat in the pipes and out of the basement. We test for asbestos before touching old covering.
Related
Often part of the same visit
Book a visit or call the office
Tell us the building and what you see. We will call you back to set the visit.