Whistling radiator

[dlonthedl]

I just moved to a cold-weather city; this is the first time I've ever used a radiator, and I know absolutely nothing about how they work.

My radiator makes a tremendous whistling/hissing noise when it first comes on, which has been 6 AM lately in my building. Needless to say, this is very annoying!

The noise comes from a hole on top of a valve located on the pipe leading to the radiator. Simply covering this little hole stops the whistling, but I'm guessing that's probably not a good thing to do. What can be done to stop this infernal whistling??!?!

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[kevplumb]

has the valve got a cap on it ?

 

[dlonthedl]

I don't think so... The hole is on a round protruding thing that sticks out of the pipe near the floor. I assume it's a valve, but I don't see where a cap would go.

Simply covering the hole with my finger stops the whistling noise. (And I don't feel any steam coming out of it or anything.) Is it bad for the radiator if I covered the hole up with a piece of duct tape? I assume that it's there for a reason, but the noise is driving me crazy.

 

[breezer]

ive seen one of those things on "tom and jerry" I think itsa type of pressure release valve.

Are you in an apartment block? it may be communial heating (if so ask a neighbour / landlord)

the other thing is this is a UK based forum and if it is steam heating its not very common over here

 

[kevplumb]

if its a pressure release shouldnt it be run outside (combi prv) etc saftey valves on steam always are

 

[breezer]

it doesnt in tom and jerry, which is loosley based on reality

 

[kevplumb]

point taken

dont think i would like 100 psi of steam or condensate venting in my bedroom tho

 

[breezer]

dont think i would like 100 psi of steam or condensate venting in my bedroom tho

neither did tom, he was sitting above it