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Imagine that you’re settling down to read a good book on a cold winter night in North Jersey. Suddenly, your heat turns on, only to produce banging, knocking, or gurgling sounds. They’re not the ones you normally hear as your pipes expand from the heat. No matter how hard you look, you can’t find the source, but it seems to be coming from your radiators.
It isn’t your imagination. It’s a phenomenon called water hammer, and it can happen when moving steam hits water in your pipes and radiators. Here’s everything you need to know about water hammer, including how to identify it and what to do about it.
First, Do You Have a Steam Radiator or a Hot-Water Radiator?
If you suspect that you’re hearing water hammer from your heating system, you need to determine its type. Steam heating systems and hot-water systems can look almost identical. However, the reasons they may suffer water hammer differ. Steam systems boil water and use the hot steam to heat your home. Hot-water systems circulate hot but not boiling water through radiators.
Older upright radiators can work with either system type, so they won’t necessarily help you identify your system. If your radiators have visible air valves on one side, you likely have a steam system. If you don’t see one, you likely have a hot-water heating system. If you can’t tell for sure, one of our HVAC experts can help you.
What Is Water Hammer in a Steam Heating System?
The cause of water hammer in a steam heating system is straightforward. Your boiler heats water to produce steam. That steam travels around your home and through its radiators. Eventually, the steam cools enough to condense back into water. That water must drain out of the pipes and radiators. If it pools anywhere or otherwise remains in the system, water hammer is a likely result. The noise comes from freshly boiled steam slamming into water that has accumulated in the system. It can sound like banging, knocking, or hammering.
Why Water Gets Trapped in Steam Pipes or Radiators
There are a handful of reasons that water may accumulate in your steam heating system’s pipes and radiators. They include:
The Radiator Is Not Pitched Correctly
Your home’s steam radiators may have either one or two connected pipes. For single-pipe radiators, the radiator must remain pitched toward that pipe. This lets condensation flow back toward the pipe and out of the radiator. For dual-pipe radiators, the radiator must pitch toward the return pipe.
A Radiator Valve Is Not Fully Open
Radiators have valves that control the flow of steam. You can close or partially close the valves on some radiators to modulate heat output. However, some valves are designed to remain either fully open or fully closed. If you have the latter, partially closing the valve can trap water in the radiator.
Pipes Have Shifted Over Time
As your home ages, it may slowly shift due to foundation settling. That can gradually move your heating system’s pipes out of their original alignment. Certain renovations, flooring changes, and heating system alterations can cause similar problems. When that happens, it can increase the chances of water becoming trapped within your heating system’s pipes or radiators.
Steam Vents Are Not Working Properly
The vents on your steam radiator have a simple job. When steam arrives at the radiator, they open to let air escape. Once the steam fully displaces all the air, the vent heats up and snaps shut to keep the steam inside. A malfunctioning vent can trap air in your radiator; this can then trap condensation. Even if a malfunctioning vent doesn’t cause water hammer, it can decrease a radiator’s performance and lead to uneven heating.
The Boiler Is Not Operating Correctly
Finally, a malfunctioning boiler can cause water hammer. Issues like improper water levels, pressure, or other malfunctions can trap water in your pipes and radiators. Occasionally, it can cause banging sounds from the boiler itself. In either case, you’ll need one of our HVAC technicians to diagnose the exact problem for you.
What Does Gurgling Mean?
Issues with your steam heating system can produce a variety of sounds. Gurgling noises indicate that water or condensate is gathering where it shouldn’t. You may then hear water hammer. Hissing noises likely indicate a malfunctioning valve or vent. If you hear especially loud water hammer sounds, don’t ignore them. They could signal serious pressure problems that can damage your heating system.
There are a few sounds that you may hear that are no cause for alarm. Minor clicking or pinging sounds aren’t unusual during a steam boiler’s operation. They often result from metal expanding as it heats. If you hear such noises when your heat turns on, it’s safe to keep using your system.
Has the Radiator Always Made That Noise?
Also be mindful of any changes to the sounds your heating system makes. Repeated sounds you’ve always heard are rarely a cause for concern. New sounds, especially after remodeling, flooring work, or heating service, could be. And if you’re hearing new noises along with reduced heat output or leaking, have your heating system inspected immediately.
What Can Homeowners Safely Check?
If you’re hearing concerning noises, there are a few things you can do, and a few things to leave to the pros. For example, make sure you don’t have furniture or other objects blocking your radiators. You can visually examine your radiator valves and vents for signs of leaks. You can also keep a log of when you hear the noises to help with diagnosis.
However, never adjust your boiler’s pressure or disassemble its controls. Never use excessive force on an old or seized radiator valve, either.
Why Radiator Problems Can Show Up in Older North Jersey Homes
If you own an older house in North Jersey with a steam radiator, it’s not unusual to experience occasional problems. Your system may contain components that were installed or modified over many decades. Your home’s heating system may be serving renovated rooms and additions that didn’t exist originally. It may have updated control systems that aren’t quite working. Your radiators, vents, valves, or piping may also begin to malfunction with age. Your boiler itself can even be the source of your problem.
When to Call for Boiler or Radiator Service
The bottom line is that there are a few situations where you should immediately call for boiler or radiator service. If you hear severe or worsening banging, schedule a system inspection. If you experience uneven heating, one or more radiators stop heating, or you notice leaks, call for repairs. If your boiler frequently shuts down unexpectedly or suddenly starts behaving strangely, call for service.
If yours is an older home, it pays to be extra vigilant. It’s worth having any persistent banging sounds diagnosed. The team here at Pipe Works Services can service steam boilers of all makes and models. We’re the area’s top radiant heating experts, and we’re happy to help.
If you need boiler services in Chatham, NJ, contact our team at Pipe Works Services.
