Radiator Ok?

jwesevich

I have a couple of radiators which had covers on them, and judging from the wallpaper behind both, I'd say that neither cover has been off since the '20s.  Both covers were all rust. 

They both worked in April when we did the home inspection, but I saw this on one end of the second, and it didn't look right at all:

<img src="http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r104/jeff_w_47/Details/radiator_dr.jpg" alt="" />

Is this a problem, and how would I go about getting it fixed, if so?



thanks!

jeff

Rod

Radiators

Hi Jeff-

   While it doesn't look all that good, the big question is does it actually leak ?  

Radiator sections are attached together using  nipples of which there are two types.

    One type uses Left & Right nipples. One end of the nipple has left handed

thread, the other end has right handed thread. There are usually "knobs"

on the inside of the nipple that a special tool can engage to

tighten/loosen the nipple. On an old radiator, the nipples are probably

rusted in and/or the "knobs " have deteriorated, so trying to

disassemble this type of radiator usually isn't very practical. `

   The other type of nipple is the push nipple which is an non threaded nipple with a slight taper on each end. These radiators have longitudinal metal rods to hold the radiator sections together. The rods are generally external though on a few radiator models they are internal.  Replacement push nipples are still available.

If you do if fact have a leak it maybe more practical to look around for a replacement radiator of the same size ( EDR) than attempt rebuilding the present one.

- Rod