Why the top floor heats last
Steam rises and fills the closest radiators first. If every radiator has the same-size vent, the first-floor radiators grab the steam and the top floor gets whatever's left — late and weak. Balancing means sizing the vents so the steam reaches every floor at roughly the same time.
How balancing works
The fix is vent sizing: larger or faster vents on the radiators farthest from the boiler (usually the top floor), and smaller vents on the closest ones, so the steam is distributed evenly instead of all going to the first radiator it reaches. Main vents on the steam mains help too — they let the air out of the long runs so steam travels fast to the whole system.
- •Larger vents on the top floor, smaller on the first floor
- •Main vents on the steam mains speed heat to every floor
- •The goal: every radiator warm at roughly the same time
- •Balancing cuts fuel use — the boiler runs less to heat the whole house
Call and tell me the layout
Tell me how many floors, how many radiators, and which ones heat last. I'll size the vents to balance the system so the whole house heats evenly instead of the boiler running itself ragged to warm the top floor.
Have a plumbing issue right now?
Call and leave a voicemail — Bob calls back during business hours. For the fastest reply (usually within the hour), email him directly.