Radiator Turns Upper East Side Apartment into a Steam Room
An Upper East Side apartment was transformed into a steam-filled nightmare after a malfunctioning radiator caused quite a stir.
A video capturing the radiator’s erratic behavior has gone viral, racking up 9 million views and even attracting attention from the FDNY, who had to step in after the incident sparked concern among social media users.
Sam Souder, a 27-year-old originally from New Jersey, woke up to strange noises coming from his roommate’s room. Curious, he went to check it out and discovered the radiator acting up.
“It was shaking and pulsating, leaking everywhere, and it made this really loud noise. Honestly, it sounded like it was angry,” Souder recalled.
Having moved into the prewar building with two roommates just a few months ago, he quickly grabbed his phone to document what was happening. “I just wanted to show my roommate what was going on. I didn’t want him to think I was exaggerating,” he said.
His roommates contacted the building management, suggesting they leave the radiator valve open until he could arrive home.
“When I actually tried to turn the valve, it popped due to the pressure, and from that point on, water started draining out,” he explained.
Very soon, steam enveloped the second floor of their apartment, making it hard to see anything. “I tried to open every window and door I could find, and then I panicked a little and called my dad,” Souder admitted.
After that, he called the fire department. “People were questioning why I reached out to them, but I was, like, ‘Because I was almost burned!’”
The firefighters were very kind and said they were glad he sought help. They fixed the immediate issue by closing a valve that halted the water flow, according to Souder.
A maintenance worker later mentioned that the radiator’s issues may have stemmed from his roommate frequently turning it on and off, which is generally not advisable.
The next day, Souder, who also models, decided to share a video of the chaotic radiator situation and the FDNY’s arrival on his Instagram. “I never thought it would blow up the way it did,” he remarked.
Many commenters chimed in with humor: one asked, “Why complain? You’ve got a free steam room!” while another joked about New York apartments, saying, “They’re not for the faint-hearted.” Some even speculated that Souder’s landlord might raise the rent due to the unexpected steam room perks.
“People were cracking me up. Someone said, ‘I hope the clothes in the closet don’t get wrinkled,’” Souder chuckled.
Interestingly, this experience also led to new connections for him. “I got a call from the girl who lived in my old place, and I was really happy about that,” he said.
He was also contacted by the wife of one of the firefighters featured in the video, who shared that her husband doesn’t have social media but that the video had made his year.
