Buzz
Living in a city often means dealing with basic, no-frills housing. Your walls, trim, and door frames are likely covered in a coat of plain white paint, there's a standard ceiling light fixture, and you probably have a simple radiator tucked away in the corner of every room. These metallic, functional devices do an excellent job heating your space, but if you've spent enough time with one, you know they come with their own set of problems. One major issue? They’re incredibly noisy.
Sometimes they hiss. Sometimes they clang. Sometimes they gurgle like a bubbling fishbowl. It’s hard to concentrate (or sleep) with the constant noise from your radiator, but good luck getting your landlord to deal with it. Or maybe you're in an older home, and the problem is solely yours to tackle (lucky you!). Either way, there are several things you can try to quiet your radiator without having to call in a professional—or pestering the building superintendent again.
How to fix a gurgling radiator
A classic TimeOut New York post aptly compares the unique sound of a radiator to 'your dad gurgling Listerine for hours on end.' It's not exactly a clang or a bang, but it’s a noise you’ve definitely encountered if you’ve endured a winter with a radiator. It’s more of a sloshing and grumbling sound that can be quite bothersome.
Fortunately, this annoying noise is likely caused by trapped air in the radiator, and it’s easy to fix by 'bleeding' some excess water from the system. To do this, you’ll need a radiator key, a small tool that you can find for about $5 at Home Depot. On the top of your radiator, there’s a valve that the key fits onto. Turn it counterclockwise slowly until water starts to drip out. Place a towel beneath the radiator to catch any drips.
How to fix a hissing radiator
No, it’s not your inflatable chair deflating, and there’s no snake in your toilet: it’s your radiator hissing. Air that shouldn’t be escaping is finding its way out. You might think, 'hey, free white noise!' But that’s all fine and dandy until you're on a video call, and no one can hear you over the loud hiss.
According to Bob Vila, to resolve this issue, try shutting the intake valve and removing your steam vent. Soak it overnight in a bowl of vinegar to dissolve any calcium deposits that might be causing the noise. Alternatively, you can simply purchase a new steam vent at the hardware store for just a few dollars. Bring some photos of your radiator to help the store associates find the correct part.
How to fix a banging radiator
Banging radiators are more troublesome than the typical hissing or gurgling ones because they can startle you awake in the middle of the night (or at least, wake me up). Whether you describe it as knocking or clanging, the noise is incredibly annoying.
According to A Good Plumber, the noise usually happens when steam inside the radiator meets cooler water, often due to a faulty valve. It could also be caused by a dirty boiler or a back-pitched pipe. To fix this, try placing a few shims under the lower end of the radiator so that it tilts toward the boiler. This will prevent the cooler water from settling in places where it could come into contact with the steam.
Other tips to prevent radiator noise
Bleeding, shimming, and cleaning your radiator are the best methods to deal with unwanted noise. Try to do all three at the start of the fall—or whenever you can—to stop most of the noise from developing.
Never leave your radiator valve partially open. It should either be fully closed or fully open. If you’ve ever set it halfway, you likely noticed it makes the radiator run louder. A Good Plumber points out that when amateurs tamper with the valves too often, it can lead to damage, causing leaks—and even more noise.
You can also wrap a bit of insulation around the steam pipes near your radiator to help mute any sounds they produce. In my apartment, I have two radiators on opposite sides of the living room, plus three large pipes that help heat the bathroom and bedroom. These pipes are behind most of my noise complaints, but simply adding pre-made pipe insulation greatly reduces their disruptive noise. You can find specialized insulation jackets at your local hardware store, so ask for recommendations on which ones work best for very hot pipes. Or, request that your landlord take care of it—maybe by next winter, you’ll be all set.
