If you’re like us, a constant reminder of an old house is when you hear the heater whistle. Yep, it’s winter. I recently read in This Old House that the banging sound you hear is the sound of steam entering and colliding with cool water pooled in the radiator.
Quick Fix…
All you need to do is check the level of your radiator and insert a piece of plywood under the opposite riser to slightly raise that end of the radiator which will allow water to condense out. You may also need to open up the bleeder valve which is located at the top of the radiator and bleed off the air.
Do You Have Issues Controlling The Heat In Your House?
Unfortunately, another draw back of having an older home is that they have fewer heating zones. In our home we only have one heating system zone and I hate that we have to pay to heat the entire house even if only a couple rooms are cold.
Quick Fix…
Install a one pump thermostatic steam valve which senses the temperature in the room.  Once installed, if you set the temperature to 70 degrees and the room is 70, nothing will come through. These valves turn every radiator into its own zone. Brilliant!
 Follow these simple steps to install a Radiator Thermostat:
- Turn off the room’s thermostat.
- Unscrew the old valve off slowly (counter clockwise) as they tend to snap right off.
- Put Teflon tape on threads of new thermostatic steam valve for a tight seal.
- Tighten the new steam valve into radiator with an adjustable wrench.
- Carefully thread the old air vent into the top of new steam valve.
- Make sure the handle is all the way open to do its job.
- Turn on the room’s thermostat to your desired temperature.
Enjoy the HUGE DIFFERENCE this small DIY home maintenance project will make this winter!
In addition, remember, it’s important to service your heating system once a year to make sure it’s running efficiently, which will help lower your energy bills.
For additional tips on lowering your energy bills and winterizing your home visit our Warm & Cozy guide.
