Steam heating: annual maintenance and changing one radiator
I know it sounds silly to be asking about heating as we’re hitting 90 degrees, but was wondering: – we’ve got one room that has an odd little in-wall radiator, not the big cast iron numbers like the rest of the house. Used to be the kitchen, so perhaps was adequate back then, but no good for a guest bedroom / home office now. How complicated is replacing one radiator (it’s a gas fired single pipe steam radiator system) with a more traditional unit that would fit in the same space? – looking ahead, is there anything that we need to do with our before we start it up at the beginning of the heating season (or anything we should have done at the end of last season)? Many thanks AB
aussieben
in Heating 9 years and 11 months ago
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3 replies
yesbrooklyn | 9 years and 9 months ago
Do you like Vigilante? I’ve heard mixed things. We have hot water heat and need some radiator maintenance and am looking for a service contract type thing as well. Thanks!
bklyngirl | 9 years and 10 months ago
We have used Vigilante Plumbing in the past. We had them on a retainer contract so they came 2-4 times a year, bled the radiators at the start and end of the “heating” season and would make small repairs under the contract which included tightening and leveling radiators, hooking them up and making sure they did not leak and such. But you can do it all yourself really. Watch Youtube and find an old salvage place that sells steam radiators. Measure your piping and buy some plumbers tape and make sure to burp them so they don’t make noise. You’ll do fine.
resident2 | 9 years and 10 months ago
It is not difficult for the right plumber to change a small steam radiator for a larger one and this is absolutely the best time of year to find the right person, before they get crazy busy. The key is to get a technician that specializes in Steam heating systems. A good way to find someone is to call the local plumbing supply place in your area and ask for a recommendation for a plumber that works on steam systems, they know all the plumbers in the area and obviously who works on what. Just as doctors have specialties, so do plumbers. And someone who says they do everything, does nothing properly! A steam system needs flushing out regularly during the heating system and before that check that the system is balanced properly, the radiators are all pitched correctly and the valves are all clear. A good steam person will explain all. When you find the right one, stick with them.