Main Vent Hole Plug Stuck

Tom_22

I have a short 3" (going from memory) main about 16' long serving 4 radiators. It has a threaded hole at the end of main in an reducing ell but it's got a plug in it and the plug doesn't want to come out. If it has always been there that would make it 99 years since it was put in.

I tried getting it out with an 18" pipe wrench and I tried heating the fitting up with a propane torch to no avail. I sprayed it with WD40 and that stuff thats suppossed to loosen rusted bolts (Liquid Wrench, I think.) No good.

Do I need a bigger wrench? I have an oxy-acetylene torch. Should I try applying some heat with that?

Should I forget about it before I break it and make a big job out it? This main is pretty short so it's not a huge issue. The radiators heat up pretty fast.

Dave DeFord_3

This might work.

It sounds like you have soaked it down with penetrating oil pretty well. Get a big wrench on it (the biggest one you have) and bear down on it for all you're worth without breaking the square off of the top. While bearing down have your wife or someone else rap the fitting sharply with a hammer - not hard enough to break the fitting just hard enough so make it ring. Many times this will loosen up rusted joints that don't respond to anything else. Good luck.

Bob W._3

Since its not a big issue you may want to consider leaving it alone and tapping the main after the last riser for a main vent.