[bmgb]

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Does the handle screw on or is it held on with a screw through the middle of the handle into the stem? If it's the latter then I'd just put a screw in the hole.

The latter. Did that, then realized it not just leaking out the stem, but from the packing nut. Then I went to work on the nut.

Oy, what a mess, indeed. It appears the nut broke, or a plastic part came out of the center of it, and there's no way to tighten it down again. I can see how it would work though, if I hadn't fucked it up.

I just wrapped it all up like a mummy with the teflon tape. Gonna have to get a new nut tomorrow anyway, along with more teflon tape. Luckily, I was well prepared with plenty of towels, and the drip pan on my bed downstairs.

I suppose if I had never messed with this stuff in the first place, none of this mess would have happened. It's just that when my roommate mentioned the noise, I thought "I haven't been crazy all these years, it really is loud."

And I never did anything about it before when my dad was here, because I figured it was his problem. But I have to remind myself every once in a while that my dad is an idiot.

So my next question is: What's the harm in running the system at low pressure? Is it inefficient? It's probably been running at low pressure for a long time, and the temperature has been bearable. (Also, I used to live upstairs, and it was always warmer up there; due to heat rising, and probably good insulation. Noisy, though.)

BTW, any valve in the house that doesn't get moved for months (years?) at a time, it's a real good practice to loosen the packing nut before moving the valve then tighten it up again.

Yeah, all the valves downstairs are immovable, it appears since the radiators were painted gods-know-when. They seem to be working fine though. I better not touch them.

Thanks (again and again) Bruce.