Maid O' Mist 1/8" Angle Automatic Steam Vent with Five Pack of Orifices. 0220-5L

I have lived in the same house for the past 35 years and I tried a lot of brands of steam vents. The Maid O'Mist valves are much quieter than the torpedo shaped steam vents and tend to last longer. This adjustable valve vent costs more than regular non-adjustable Mid O'Mist valves, but can save time and money trying to figure out the right size valve vent.Just in case you are unfamiliar with steam radiator valves, the valve allows the steam to replace the cold air in the radiator and it controls the speed at which the steam heat enters the radiator. Since steam normally reaches the first floor radiators before the second and third floor radiators, you need to slow down the radiators on the lower floors so that the first floor doesn't heat up and shut off the thermostat before the steam ever reaches the bedrooms upstairs. Each of these adjustable valves comes with an assortment of small circular screw in plates, that basically look like a plug with the hole in the middle.The hole controls the speed that the steam fills the radiator and the holes are labeled 4 (smallest), 5, 6, C and D (largest). Just a hint if you are new to this... In a three story house, always put the 4 & 5s on the first floor so that those rooms don't overheat. The 6's usually go on the second floor and the C or D holes on the third floor. If you want to keep your bathroom extra warm, go up one or two sizes in the bathroom.

We have several radiators that we need to adjust for colder and warmer seasons. We've yet to find an adjustable air vent that seems to perform well. And none that we've had could really open up and vent our larger radiators quickly. This comes with 5 different, easily switchable orifaces as shown in the picture. The one with the largest opening really vents fast. Much of the advice about "balancing" the air valves of radiators doesn't apply to us. We have a very well insulated and air-sealed older house with some solar heat. In the spring and fall, the boiler might only run twice a day, in the evening and first thing in the morning. We have a timed thermostat that cuts the heat down at night. So in the morning, and again when the house cools off in the evening, we want the heat to come up fast in the downstairs living areas. So, contrary to the advice about putting smaller air valves on the larger radiators near the boiler, we want them to vent the cold air fast through the largest possible vent and thus heat up very fast, so the boiler runs maybe 35 minutes instead of an hour to bring the thermostat up to the target temperature, saving maybe $1.50-$3 in oil per day in the in-between seasons. The remote radiators on the second floor have the 2nd smallest orifaces--but even so, and again contrary to the usual advice, they heat up pretty fast and are toasty by bedtime. In the dead of winter here in Maine, we switch to a smaller orifice on the biggest radiator downstairs in the living room because with the boiler running several hours a day on near-zero days, that room gets too hot. They seem very solidly built, and go open or shut based on internal temperature very solidly without sputtering, unlike the cheapo air valves at the big box stores.

The replaceable, screw-in vents can be tailored to any size of radiation, and if your first pick seems less than optimal, change it--larger or smaller. I have used GORTON vents in the past and they work well, but are expensive. And, if you "guessed wrong" on your first pick you are out another $35 for the next guess. NOBODY, in my opinion, can tell you definitively what size vent to use for a one-pipe-steam radiator. Trial and error is the best approach, and once you settle on a vent size that works for your particular situation you have the info YOU need.

I've got so impressed by receiving Shipped notice in the evening of the day I placed order. Super express shipping and handling. Yesterday, well packaged item arrived and it took me literally 5 min to finish replacing. I wasn't sure which size of vent hole should be there, and that's whole reason I purchased this. And, it's worthy it. I might have to put a next larger vent hole to make radiator warmer. how great!

So far, so good. It's working to allow my radiator to heat up, and I love the fact that it came with all the different vent sizes to get the right fit.

For balancing of the steam system, which most of your regular hvac peopel won't know how to do, this vent is a must. Comes with various sized orifices, which is a key. Place large orifices at the radiators furthest from the boiler, and smaller ones as you are getting closer to the boiler. While at it, make sure your main vents are as big as you can get in (Gordon #2 or Hoffman 75). I was able to get a farthest radiator consistently hot after installing this vent and replacing/adding a main vent and couple of thermostatic vents. Remember, you want to get all radiators on one "zone" to warm up at a same time, or as close to it. Key to this is getting the air out of the pipe as quickly as possible. Air will, like water, seek a path of least resistance. Thus, the bigger the opening on the vent, the quicker the air escapes and quicker your radiator will get hot.

No more cold radiators! I had new steam valves on my radiators and had many that were constantly ice cold. Those were made in China and these are made in the USA. I threw out all of the Chinese vents and replaced them with these. Viola! My radiators that never got hot before are now working as they should. I can't believe this is all it took to make my house warm and lower my gas bills because the boiler doesn't work as hard since all the radiators are working as they should. I love how you can screw in the different size holes to regulate how quickly you want each radiator to heat up. I needed 18 for all of my radiators and tempted to stockpile a ton more in case any of them fail. Best solution EVER for your cold radiators!!

Does not do as good a job at controlling heat as thought it might.