Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Cj_Joker t1_irmwoef wrote

Reply to comment by PuzzleheadedWalrus71 in Your annual reminder that if your apartment has a radiator, don't open and close the valve. This can create condensation in the system causing a knocking sound. Radiators are designed to be used with a series of open windows to balance heat. by emeyer94

If you're talking the big cast iron radiant heaters, you're supposed to use a cotton or wool cover with this, which restricts the airflow through the heater, and lessens the actual radiant heat. You're not supposed to use open windows to balance things out (although that does help keep fresh air in the place and lowers the chance of illness).

Covering the units helps preserve the heat capacity in the system and allows people further down the line to receive more heat, as opposed to having to absolutely crank up the heat in order to get at least a small amount of it to the end of the line, when they're all just exposed and blazing away.

They used to sell covers specifically for this back in the day... not sure why this just fell to the wayside.

And do not use synthetic materials on it.

6