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Small rads upstairs

adasilva
adasilva Member Posts: 144
in THE MAIN WALL
Single pipe system with two small rad upstairs with the vents located on the top of the radiator due to the fact the main plug being in the way of turning the vents out to remove them. With them up top the rads only heat so far as the air keeps the steam out due to not venting properly! With all that in consideration can I just small pipe a new vent to lower the location of it & have the same result as having it in the lower port of the radiator? I do have new vents but did not install due to the large plug in the way of the vent. I am kid free this weekend and would like to do this before she is here next weekend (if this is a feasible plan).
Thoughts??

Comments

  • Brewbeer
    Brewbeer Member Posts: 616
    Doesn't the vent belong in the tapping that is 1/4 the way up from the bottom of the radiator?
    Hydronics inspired homeowner with self-designed high efficiency low temperature baseboard system and professionally installed mod-con boiler with indirect DHW. My system design thread: http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/154385
    System Photo: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/79/451e1f19a1e5b345e0951fbe1ff6ca.jpg
    Canucker
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    @Brewbeer it does but whoever installed them didn't know better and now I need to remedy the issue. That's why I asked if I pipes the vent from the upper hole and down to where is should be would do the trick? The plug where the vent should be isn't budging and I don't want to break it.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,859
    It might be worth a try -- but I think (just my opinion, no actual experience) that it really wouldn't make a difference, since it seems to me that what counts is where the outlet from the radiator is.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Brewbeer
    Brewbeer Member Posts: 616
    I dont think piping as you suggested will work. The plug in the correct tapping should be drilled out and extracted in pieces if necessary.
    Hydronics inspired homeowner with self-designed high efficiency low temperature baseboard system and professionally installed mod-con boiler with indirect DHW. My system design thread: http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/154385
    System Photo: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/79/451e1f19a1e5b345e0951fbe1ff6ca.jpg
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    edited December 2017
    @Jamie Hall @Brewbeer That's what I wondered, if it was the location of the hole or the level of the vent itself. Thanks for the input and happy New Year!
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    OK one last question. Is there any reason to NOT use a brass plug to replace the vent up top after I drill out the old plug and install the new vent? Seems that finding the plug in cast iron or even steel is tricky at this point.....
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 439
    no problem using a brass plug, if you don't like the aesthetics you can paint it. Put a little teflon tape on the threads to get a good seal.
    adasilva
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    @Gary Smith cool ty for the feedback! Not overly concerned with the looks at this point just want them to warm up the way they should.
  • Boiler wrestler
    Boiler wrestler Member Posts: 43
    I would recommend removing the small lower plug and installing the vent there. You could leave the existing vent and see how it performs. Then it can be removed/disabled later (summer) if the radiator overheats relative to the other radiators.
    adasilva
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    @Boiler wrestler that's probably going to be my plan of attack today. I figure if the rad is too hot I can always try to tighten the top vent down to turn it off if I can get it to go that far. Maybe even at a 1/4 turn might disable it as well?
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,479
    I agree with @Boiler wrestler install a new vent in the lower tapping. After the heating season you can remove the old vent. You can take the plug out and install a countersunk plug that won't stick out so far or just cut the old vent off so you can turn out what's left and install an 1/8 pipe plug
    adasilva
  • adasilva
    adasilva Member Posts: 144
    So I had good luck with one of these rads and the plug just backed out with no issues at all. New vent installed and waiting for it all to heat up now!
    ethicalpaul

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