Should I try to remove 80 year-old steam pipe?

Unknown

We're adding a tile floor to a bathroom, so the new floor will be about an inch higher than before. There's no vertical flex in the supply pipe for the radiator. The house has an 80 year old single pipe steam system. The radiator is fed by a one inch pipe about 12" long, screwed into an elbow below the floor (visible but not real accessible from below). Ideally, I'd like to remove the pipe from the elbow and replace it with a longer pipe and a new valve. I applied Liquid Wrench at the elbow and put an 18 inch pipe wrench on the valve, but it won't budge.

Am I crazy to touch these old pipes? Are the threads sure to be rusted beyond hope?

If it can be done, what do I need? More muscle is obvious, but what about a longer wrench? At some risk to the timbers, I could get a torch on the elbow from the basement: will this do it?

Unknown

Removing ancient steam pipes

We're adding a tile floor to a bathroom, so the new floor will be about an inch higher than before. There's no vertical flex in the radiator steam pipe. Ideally, I'd like to remove the pipe and replace it with a longer pipe and a new valve.

The house has an 80 year old single pipe steam system. The radiator is fed by a one inch pipe about 12" long, screwed into an elbow below the floor (visible but not real accessible from below). I applied Liquid Wrench at the elbow and put an 18 inch pipe wrench on the valve, but it won't budge.

Am I crazy to touch these old pipes? Are the threads sure to be rusted beyond hope?

If it can be done, what do I need? More muscle is obvious, but what about a longer wrench? At some risk to the timbers, I could get a torch on the elbow from the basement: will this do it?

Unknown

Removing ancient steam pipes

We're adding a tile floor to a bathroom, so the new floor will be about an inch higher than before. There's no vertical flex in the radiator steam pipe. Ideally, I'd like to remove the pipe and replace it with a longer pipe and a new valve.

The house has an 80 year old single pipe steam system. The radiator is fed by a one inch pipe about 12" long, screwed into an elbow below the floor (visible but not real accessible from below). I applied Liquid Wrench at the elbow and put an 18 inch pipe wrench on the valve, but it won't budge.

Am I crazy to touch these old pipes? Are the threads sure to be rusted beyond hope?

If it can be done, what do I need? More muscle is obvious, but what about a longer wrench? At some risk to the timbers, I could get a torch on the elbow from the basement: will this do it?

Unknown

Removing ancient steam pipes

We're adding a tile floor to a bathroom, so the new floor will be about an inch higher than before. There's no vertical flex in the radiator steam pipe. Ideally, I'd like to remove the pipe and replace it with a longer pipe and a new valve.

The house has an 80 year old single pipe steam system. The radiator is fed by a one inch pipe about 12" long, screwed into an elbow below the floor (visible but not real accessible from below). I applied Liquid Wrench at the elbow and put an 18 inch pipe wrench on the valve, but it won't budge.

Am I crazy to touch these old pipes? Are the threads sure to be rusted beyond hope?

If the pipe can be removed, what do I need? More muscle is obvious, but what about a longer wrench? At some risk to the timbers, I could get a torch on the elbow from the basement: will this do it?

bob young

extend existing pipe-- do not remove

remove the valve & install a 1 " extension coupling w/ a new valve. case closed.

Robert O'Connor_7

Geoff

Try a hammer (provided that the fitting your trying to get off is cast iron). Put a hammer behind the fitting and then smack the front side with yet another. If you hit it just right (and hard enough) you will develope a crack in it. Keep hitting it till it breaks off. Just be careful for if you monkey up the threads or egg it, you'll get a leak or you may not get a new fitting on at all, or you could possibly break it off under the floor which then I'd suggest you call in the big guns. This "may" not be a DIY project but based on your post (working with an 18" wrench) you may need a bigger wrench or a cheater bar but whatever you do, HOLD BACK with another wrench agaist the wall. If your questioning your skills you could look up to the top of the page and click on "Find a Pro", type in your zip code, I'm sure you'll do fine whatever you choose. Good Luck!

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Unknown

Thanks!

Well, the simplest is always best. A pipe over the wrench's handle gave me enough leverage to take the valve off. It came off smooth & clean. Thanks, guys!