How to repair leak at base of steam radiator?

cleocleo

One of my steam radiators has developed a small leak (drips every 20-30 seconds) at the bottom where two of the fins meet. I've attached a picture (taken from the bottom, looking up). This is a 10-fin radiator with 2 tubes in each fin. Any ideas on how to best fix something like this?



Thanks!

Jamie Hall

Chances are

that the nipple between the sections has -- finally -- rotted out.



The really authentic way to fix it is to pull it apart and put in a new nipple.  Hopefully someone will pile in and give you the address for those.



However.



That's a pain.  The first thing I would try would be JB Weld or one of the other epoxy products which are supposed to stop leaks.  Clean the area very thoroughly, and give it a shot.  One of two things will happen: it will work or it won't.  If it doesn't you will be able to get it off again without that much trouble really.



If it doesn't, you may have to pull the sections apart (easier said than done) and, barring doing it the right way with a new nipple, see if you can reseal it.  I have had very good luck with the a ring of the red RTV sealant used on engines set up as a sort of a gasket at the joint (but not in where the nipple sits).

JamesC in Stamford CT

push nipple replacement

The first thing I would do is make sure your boiler pressure is not too high. If the pressure is set too high, the steam will find a way out. If you reset the pressure low enough, even if there is a physical leak in the radiator, the steam might not find its way out.



But, assuming that your pressure is fine, then yes to what Jamie suggested, JB Weld where the leak is. That is what I did at first, but it did not last. At the time, I did not realize how radiators sections are assembled. When I finally pulled apart the sections, I realized that where the sections meet is not what is meant to give the water-tight seal. The seal between sections is really made with nipples.



To see my odyssey, see http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/137590/New-GovFree-Governale-rad-or-a-2nd-hand-replacement

and to see the final view of what it looked like, see http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/137845/push-nipple-replacements



You will notice that the push-nipples I ordered came 1/8-inch too long. So when I put the radiator back together, there was an 1/8" gap between sections! But no matter, that's how I came to understand the the seal is made at the push nipple. And that is why the first attempt with JB Weld only stood a smaller chance of holding (though sometimes it does work).

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

James Is Right

Check the pressure, I have seen more than a few radiators leaking because of high pressure, I have seen three radiators stop leaking by sprinkling or mixing a past of salt and just pushing it between the sections, one was a hot water system.



Thanks, Bob Gagnon

copperkid

Lead wool

would be another option, I've seen some fitters fix hot water welding pinholes by tapping it in the leak.  It is soft and rusts shut.  I was replacing 90 yr old control valves in a school last week and had a small leak on the nipple, I tapped in some lead solder and it is still holding, they are running six pound steam.