hotelman

hotelman

We have an old hotel built in 1869, and have a cast iron radiator in one of our hotel rooms with a leak between the banks.  The radiator does not appear cracked, just leaking where the banks come together.  The radiator is 4'x 3', and they don't make this size anymore.  Is there someone near Wellsboro, PA who fixes old radiators?  Please feel free to call the Penn Wells Hotel at 570-724-2111 and ask for Tom Carleton, or our head of maintenance Jan Steiner on his cell phone at 570-337-0290.

Paul48

Unless

the radiator is particularly ornate, I would look to an architectural salvage yard. Have it pressure tested before you install it.

Jamie Hall

Depending on the leak

it's not impossible to fix -- in fact, it may not be that hard.  If... there are tension rods on the radiator, or if you can figure out what's holding it together, it may be possible to pry (very carefully!) the banks apart and see what is creating the leak.  It may be, depending on how the thing is put together, that there is a machined nipple which joins the sections.  They can be replaced.  If all else fails, you may be able to form a gasket using the red RTV used on auto engines.  Then put the whole thing back together.



Let us know a little more about this thing...

Hap_Hazzard

Pictures?

The critical factor in determining whether or not this radiator can be fixed is its construction.



Older radiators used threaded nipples to hold the sections together. These nipples were left-hand threaded on one side and right-hand threaded on the other, so when it was turned it would pull the sections together. These nipples are no longer available, and making them would be prohibitively expensive.



Newer radiators used tapered push nipples. The sections are pressed together until the push nipples are firmly seated in their sockets. Push nipples are available from Oneida County Boiler Works (Phone: 315-732-7914) or can be can easily be made from seamless mild steel tubing at your local machine shop.



If you can provide some pictures of the radiator we might be able to tell which kind you've got and what your prospects are.

pwhotel

Pics

Here are the pics we took of the radiator and here is the information

American Radiator 21 1/2 " wide-36 " tall-9 banks-leaking between banks 1 and 2 at bottom

Hap_Hazzard

Not sure on this one.

It looks like a modern thin tube radiator, but I don't see any truss rods. Radiators with push nipples use 1/4" steel rods, threaded at both ends, to keep tension on the sections to keep the push nipples from working loose.



Hopefully one of the professional steam men here will help us out. Most of them can recognize radiators on sight and will know exactly what's inside. If I had to make the determination myself I'd have to remove a fitting or an end plug and peer inside to see if the first nipple I see is round or shaped to accept a wrench of some kind, but those end plugs can be tough to get out, and I'd hate to see you introduce any more leaks than you already have.

nicholas bonham-carter

Leaky radiator

What is your location?

I would advise looking for a good used rad to replace that one. Surely someone here has one for sale. Make sure you get one for hot water or 2-pipe steam, as the end plugs are very difficult to remove.

Check your boiler settings and make sure that the pressure is not going over 6 ounces, and the rest of the radiators will not join the leakers brigade!--NBC

hotelman

Leaking radiator

The Penn Wells Hotel is our name  We are located in north central Pennsylvania--we're an hour north of Williamsport, PA, or 45 minutes from Corning, NY.  We're an old hotel built in 1869, using steam heat, and are in the town of Wellsboro, PA.  Please feel free to call us 570-724-2111 and ask for Tom, or 570-337-0290 --  cell phone of our maintenance man named Jan.