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Steam radiator (C) Daniel FriedmanBanging Pipe & Radiator Noise Q&A#2
FAQs on fixing banging, clanging pipes & radiators

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about troubleshooting noises in steam heating system pipes or radiators: hissing, banging, creaking, clanging

Heating pipe banginbg or other heating system system banging, clicking, tapping and creaking noise diagnosis and repair FAQs.

This article series diagnoses Banging Noises at the Steam Boiler, pipes, or radiators. Banging radiators, clanging heating pipes, bubbling noises, creaks, hisses, pops, and the like are diagnosed & fixed by these procedures.

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Steam Heat Piping or Radiator Banging or Pounding Noise Diagnosis & Cure

Low water cutoff (C) Daniel Friedman

These questions & answers about banging or clanging radiators or heating pipes were posted originally at BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS - topic home, where you will find description of different sources of and cures for banging and clanging noises in different types of heating systems including hot water heat and steam heat.

On 2019-03-07 by (mod) - track down tapping noises

See my notes below about thermal expansion.

Also see THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS

On 2019-03-07 by Casey

I have a single pipe system and it’s making these tapping noises. The radiator is pitched, the valve is in the closed position, but it’s still getting hot. I took a video last night of the noise. Can anyone tell me what’s up?

On 2018-12-01 by (mod) - clicking noise on the central heating pipes.

Check first for thermal expansion noise.

With careful inspection and perhaps use of a mechanic's stethoscope yes that problem can be resolved.

Often clicking sounds as heat is coming on are traced to thermal expansion of materials or a heated expanding material rubbing on another surface such as heating pipes passing through a floor.

It may be an issue of clearance around piping not simply insulation.

On 2018-11-30 by Jeffrey Golding

There is a clicking noise on the central heating pipes. Is it possible to identify the exact location of the noise and rectify the pipework.

On 2018-10-26 by (mod) - Ventrite problems vs Gorton #1 vent

I don't think so, Mary. Typically the banging in steam pipes is a condensate return problem.

See STEAM VENT TYPES, SELECTION also

On 2018-10-25 by Mary

I have a single pipe steam system with 2 circuits coming out of the boiler. They both have a vent at the end of the return line. One of the vents was bad (blowing steam into the room) so I brought it to the plumbing supply store.

I believe it was a Ventrite #35 (I dont have it anymore, but that's what is on the line that I did not replace). The store said they did not have the Ventrite, but they sold me a Gorton #1 instead, saying it was the same.

Since I installed it, I have been hammering on the line that still has the old Ventrite, when the heat comes on. Is the Gorton vent the cause of this hammering on the other line? Thanks for your help.

On 2018-04-09 by (mod) -

Loping

Let's start by tracking down the actual sound source; for example thermal expansion and contraction at a pipe that passes through a tight floor opening could be a noise source.

On 2018-04-09 by Loping

Banging and clicking noise after boiler stop,tech adjust temperature,flush the system the noise even worse,what is really wrong

On 2018-01-06 by (mod) -

New radiators may well bang too. Better to repair the cause as discussed in the article above

On 2018-01-06 by madeleine

we have replaced the vents and pitched to the maximum. is there any reason replacing the actual radiators would help? they bang so loudly at the start of each cycle that we can't have them on in the kids' rooms. there is some banging when they are shut off all the way but much much less.

On 2017-12-12 by Anonymous

it drys and couses more dirt but oil wont come off or how do you wash out of hair from bad air from rads

On 2017-12-12 by Anonymous

how do you wash oil resedue off body from air and wash clothing it wont come off body or clothes

On 2017-11-18 by (mod) - how to choose the right steam vent

Patrick,

You need to replace the spitting steam vent indeed. At STEAM VENT TYPES, SELECTION I explain how I figure out which vent to buy.

Often you can find a number on the vent you've got and you can match it or find an equivalent using the tables of vent selections we provide (as so the manufacturers).

Steam systems often use chemical additives to control corrosion and surging but you wouldn't normally "winterize" the system by adding an antifreeze - which is what your friend is probably considering - because that wouldn't work and because we do NOT want to blow antifreeze into the occupied space through steam vents.

A steam system is always using some of its water and adding new water, so winterizing antifreeze wouldn't work anyway.

Your friend is probably more-familiar with hydronic (hot water) heating systems. Those keep the same charge of water "forever" or until there's a leak. And they don't blow their water ( nor steam) out into the occupied space. So antifreeze would "work" in a hydronic system as "insurance" against a freeze-up should power and heat go out for a time.

The best you can do to winterize your steam heating system is to have the boiler cleaned and serviced and tuned for efficient and reliable operation.

On 2017-11-17 by patrick

I have a 1940's style steam heat system and I live in NJ. I have two questions:

First questions is my radiator in my bathroom spits out water from the steam vent. I want to replace the steam vent. How do I know what vent I need. I have a one pipe system. Is a float type system what I need?

Second questions is how do I winterize my system for this winter?? My friend said there is something I'm supposed to pour into the system but not sure what he is talking about. Can anyone help?? Thanks, Patrick

On 2017-11-07 by (mod) -

Eresena,

I don't know what valves were installed where on your boiler, but it's possible that the banging you hear is from having cleared out a hot water flow blockage that in turn increased the water flow velocity, combined with typical causes of banging pipes that occurs when a pump stops or a zone valve closes.

Take a look at the six categories of banging heating pipes listed at the start of BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS - one of those articles, chosen to match the kind of heating system you have, probably

CREAKING CLANGING HOT WATER HEATING PIPES
or

ZONE VALVE BACKWARDS, BANGING will explain the cause and cure.

Also read WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - to understand why banging pipes occur in water systems.

On 2017-11-07 by Eresena

We have hot water heat. New valves were put on our boiler to replace very old ones that were corroded..

We have 4 zones. When we adjust the thermostats, we hear loud banging noises. What is causing this? How can this be stopped?

On 2017-11-07 by (mod) - banging noises somewhere in heating system after valves replaced

Eresena,

I don't know what valves were installed where on your boiler, but it's possible that the banging you hear is from having cleared out a hot water flow blockage that in turn increased the water flow velocity, combined with typical causes of banging pipes that occurs when a pump stops or a zone valve closes.

It will aid in the diagnosis of this annoying noise to start by noting just where the sound is emanating: from radiators or pipes or at the boiler.

Take a look at the six categories of banging heating pipes listed at the start of BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS - one of those sections chosen to match the kind of heating system you have, probably

CREAKING CLANGING HOT WATER HEATING PIPES

or

ZONE VALVE BANGING or BACKWARDS - separate article

Also read WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - to understand why banging pipes occur in water systems.

On 2017-11-07 by Eresena

We have hot water heat. New valves were put on our boiler to replace very old ones that were corroded.. We have 4 zones. When we adjust the thermostats, we hear loud banging noises. What is causing this? How can this be stopped?

On 2017-10-31 by Jeannette

I hear loud banging noises about an hour after my heat is on. I have hot water heat. The next noise every 2 to three hours after that .
What is causing the noise.

On 2017-10-20 by (mod) - radiators rattle when the wind blows

That's a bit baffling, Penny, I agree, since the hot water piping and radiators in a forced hot water system are a closed system that is not connected to any normal wind-affected building component. Perhaps narrowing the sound down to one specific radiator would point then to a nearby noise source in or on the building itself.

See WIND NOISES at BUILDINGS https://inspectapedia.com/noise_diagnosis/Wind_Noise_Diagnosis.php for additional ideas that might help track this down. Keep us posted as what you find will help other readers.

On 2017-10-20 by Penny Parrott

Every time the wind blew last night rattling seemed to come from my radiator, any ideas what is causing this.

On 2017-04-08 by anon -

Or on a steam system, condensate collecting where it should not.

On 2017-04-08 by Glenn

Loud banging sound installed 4 months ago could be air in system 2 zones Weil McClain csg gold boiler

On 2017-04-01 by (mod) - drain excess water from the boiler and fix the feed valve

Hilary,

Your service tech should be able to drain the excess water from the system right at the boiler drain. Automatic water feed valve, assuming you have one, should not begin to add makeup water to the boiler and tell the level drops much slower.

On 2017-04-01 by Hilary

We have water hammer in our steam pipes in the basement. Overfilled the boiler to make up water and some went into the steam riser and then into some of the basement ceiling pipes. Is there a fix for this problem? Thanks!

On 2017-03-27 by (mod) -

Ask the plumber to examine the system to find the specific component that is causing the noise - typically a valve that is closing too rapidly for the system's pressure.

On 2017-03-27 by Linda castellino

Six months ago I had a new gas furnace installed with an automatic water feeded. Since then I have had banging pipes. And water coming out of the radiator valve. My plumber pitched all the pipes, changed the varivalves with maid of mist valves, put a check valve with a door in it for the vaccuum.

It is still banging and the water in the gauge goes all the way down. He also had a compressor to check for blockages, what should I do?

On 2017-03-21 by (mod) - banging noise after new steam boiler installed

If the steam system wasn't making banging pipe noises before but does make them after a new boiler was installed I can but suspect that there is a problem with the condensate return piping.

You and other tenants can make sure that steam vents are working on your radiators and that noises are not coming from the radiators themselves - that would suggest that maintenance is needed at the noisy radiator.

Else you might let the manager know that there's a problem that may lead to other more costly or even safety concerns present any time a steam heating system isn't working properly. For example banging steam piping can disturb a temperature/pressure relief valve, causing it to leak; over a longer term a leaky relief valve may become unsafe.

On 2017-03-21 by Harry

Landlord recently had new steam heater installed. Since then, the pipes heading to the radiators bang constantly. I don't know why he doesn't call them back? Probably a money issue. What can we do ourselves? My friend is a maintenance man at a large apartment facility, but they do not have steam system.

On 2017-03-04 by (mod) - increasing system temperature won't get rid of excess water from a steam radiator

No Edward, increasing temperature or pressure won't remove "excess water" from a steam radiator. "Excess water" is not a normal condition in a steam radiator. If your steam radiator actually contains an accumulation of water (condensed steam) then more-likely the radiator's condensate return line or water exit point is rust, crud, and debris clogged.

On 2017-03-04 by Edward

Is it possible to remove excess water from a radiator by increasing the temperature to 85 degrees or higher using a steam boiler, because the heat from the steam will transfer to the water causing the water to become steam.


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