Resize or Replace Steam Radiator
We have long low steam radiator that we would like to resize. (resize as in take 2 sections off) We have been the house 8 years now and the radiator never gets fully warm. We are moving it slightly for architectual reasons and we have also fully insuluated, so we won’t need as much heat…
We have long low steam radiator that we would like to resize.
(resize as in take 2 sections off)
We have been the house 8 years now and the radiator never gets fully warm.
We are moving it slightly for architectual reasons and we have also fully insuluated, so we won’t need as much heat regardless.
SO, is there any chance anyone has any recommendations on how to do this, or who to hire to do it?
We like the style of the radiator we have, so resizing would be great, but I am not sure if it is possible to do that, given that would have to happen in-place. It is too heavy to remove and return.
I figure we are probably able to take sections off, but I am not so sure we will be able to put the end section with the feet back on!
Thanks.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Steamman: the radiator in question currently has 14 sections. The size is 34″ wide, 22″ high, 10″ deep. Removing 2 sections is a very small amount.
As for insulation, we have replaced the “replacement” windows with new Marvin Low-E fiberglass units, which go brick to brick now and spray foam insulated the brick exterior wall. The ceiling is going be blown-in insulated to R49, we have to finish some electrical first.
Bond: I hope we can do this. One note about connections, I believe that this is a “one” pipe radiator, so I am not sure I understand your comments about “top and bottom”, but I get what you are saying.
I am tempted to live with this size until next summer when we might have some time to find an alternate if we break the one we have.
I’ll let you know what happens, but it might be a year from now!
Maybe it was just dumb luck, but the few times I took sections out of a radiator, it wasn’t a big deal and I didn’t get any leaks.
There are usually two threaded rods running through the radiator, one near the top, one near the bottom ( I just looked at all my radiators, they are all configured the same, same case with the ones that I shortened, but you may have more than two rods). Cut those rods and remove (they’re only threaded a half inch or so on the ends, so you can’t reuse them). Working from both ends, carefully pry off the end section starting two sections in. Don’t start on the very end as cast iron is brittle and can crack. Cracking a middle section isn’t a big deal, you’re replacing one anyway, but if you crack the “footed” or end section, it’s game over. I just used a crowbar and wooden wedges, working first on one side, moving it a small fraction, then working on the other, going back and forth. Once I cracked the seal, the pieces came apart fairly easily, but this was the hardest part of the whole job, the pieces are going to feel like they are welded together until you break the bond that has formed over the last hundred years or so. One the pieces are apart, you should see that one side of the sections has a tapered cone, one near the top and one near the bottom. Clean off both ends of the two pieces that are going to go back together, the tapered cone, the flattened section around it, and the hollow that it will go into. Use steel wool, a brass brush or Scotchbrite, don’t use a heavy grit sandpaper, you don’t want to put deep scratches on the tapers. The cleaner you get everything, the easier things will go back together. Once it’s clean, wipe it down with mineral spirits, denatured alchohol, anything that will remove any grease and dirt, then put some pipe dope or thread sealant on the tapered pieces, top and bottom, all the way around and on the flat surface on both pieces. Don’t rush the cleaning, make sure to get it really clean and use enough sealant, or you will have leaks and all your effort will have been wasted. Fit the pieces back together as tightly as possible then slide two new threaded rods in (pick up rods that are longer than the radiator is ultimately going to be and threaded their whole length making sure you have a few extra inches to work with, you’ll cut off the extra at the end of the job). Again working top and bottom, tighten each rod a turn or two. Resist the urge to over tighten one rod or the other two much, this will angle the pieces to one side and make it tougher to get them to fit back together. If you have pipe clamps, you can use them to help compress everything back together. A rubber mallet is also useful, but with both, be careful to only squeeze, or hit at the top and bottom where the pieces fit together. If you hit a section in the middle, you run the risk of cracking/breaking it. Tighten the rods as tight as you can, then go back a week later and retighten. They won’t have loosened up, hopefully the pieces have settled together, which is good. Cut the rods off as close to the nuts as you can (that sentence just sounds wrong, but you get the point). I peened the ends over, but that was probably overkill.
It’s a sweaty, pain in the neck job, but not too complicated. Everything you need to do it is available at any of the big box hardware stores and assuming you have the tools already, the cost should only be around $20 for the threaded rods, nuts and washer, pipe dope, etc. The problem as I see it is that if it doesn’t work you want to have a back up plan in place. Now is a good time to tackle it, before the cold weather sets in. You don’t want to be looking for replacement radiators in November.
Let us know if you decide to do it, and how things work out, I for one would be curious to know.
Speaking from experience. If your radiator is an antique it can be difficult to take apart and put together so it will not leak. It may look fine from the outside, however it can be really worn and rusty on the inside. If it’s a new radiator, it’s possible that it can be done. Consult a plumber.
Well you made this a fairly simple question to respond to.
The simple answer is yes, you can most likely get away with resizing the radiator seeing as how you have not had a problem with the current heat output in the 8 years you have lived there. You also stated that you have fully insulated (your walls?) I assume. So that will greatly help the reduce your heat load. I would typically not go out on a limb and say yes without doing a quick heat load calc on your home but in this case you have pretty much done the work for me.
Additionally you say you want 2 sections removed. Now depending on the radiator style and dimensions each section would have a big impact on the amount of heat given off by that radiator. In your case you say the radiator never got hot all the way through (why is a totally different issue) and you say exactly 2 sections. So I assume it is for aesthetics and space.
The cheapest way would probably be to find a radiator that fits your requirements and just have that installed in place of the older one. There seem to be lots of posts on this forum about people selling old radiators.
If you are REALLY in love with your old one, in most cases (but not all) it is possible to reconfigure it. I haven’t had to do that nor can I recommend anyone to do so. But I am sure others on here can help.
Anyone want to offer a recommendation to OP?
Good luck.
-SteamMan