Early 1900's Cast Iron Radiators

Jenn

I just completed a gas conversion from oil. I have 5 cast iron radiators that I would like to sell, 4 are very decorative and one is more plain. They are multiple sizes. Any help would be great.
Thanks,

Intplm.

Please post some pictures of the rads for a look.

Steamhead

So you tore out a radiator system just to switch to gas?

Jenn

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Danny Scully

What did you do @jenn...what did you do

Tinman

Where are you located?

PerryHolzman

Why would changing the fuel type in a boiler, or installing a new boiler (common replacement) even if the new boiler uses a different fuel... affect the main piping and heating system in the house itself?

My house was built with an oil fired "hot water" boiler for a monoflow T system with cast iron baseboard in the mid 1950's.

The boiler was modified to burn gas at some time... (likely 1970's).

I replaced the boiler with a Viessmann Vitodens 200 6-24 in 2006; but maintained untouched the hot water monoflow T system with the cast iron baseboard.

Have a great day,

Perry

Jamie Hall

It wouldn't, @PerryHolzman -- I'm almost afraid that some scoundrel sold her a bill of goods -- and a forced air conversion.

Alan Welch

For whatever reason, what's done is done. As pretty as the ornate radiators are, I think that the " plain one" with the flat shelf top is the most desirable .

HVACNUT

That's what I'm interested in. What's taking the place of the rads?
Steam to water? Please say no.
Hydro coils? Please say no.
Oversized combi with S/F 30 baseboard? Please say no.
Radiant throughout? Ok, I'll buy that.
So let us know the back story.

Jenn

They are all neat. The one with the shelf is the largest.

Jenn

I am in ct.

Tinman

She is just looking to sell some radiators. No amount of inquiry is going to change that fact.

I'd be very interested in buying at least one if I were closer.

SeanBeans

I was watching Property Brothers once, and the family that came on was buying an old house with steam.

They said.. “we’re looking to take out these radiators. They take up too much room and make the air really dry”. LOL jokes on them

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Steamhead: Where are you?

Steamhead

Baltimore.

mikeg2015

most are the same style as mine. I think made by American Radiator Company. That one with the flat top I suspect is much much older maybe 1890s or older. Looks like it was designed possibly as a boot warmer/dryer. Or to keep food warm in the kitchen.

brandonf

I'm in RI. Too bad I don't need any rads right now. Although I wonder if buying & selling used rads is a worthwhile side business.

JohnNY

The suspense of this thread is killing me.

ScottSecor

This is starting to remind me of this thread:
https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/166077/radiator-removal

Jenn

I was recommended to this site for help. I feel as though I am getting more judgement than help. Good luck to all.

ethicalpaul

People here are very invested in the idea and history of steam heat in beautiful old homes, me among them. But I do understand your feeling.

But if I may ask, what kind of help are you seeking? I couldn't figure that out from your posts.

Tinman

@ethicalpaul - Her very first post says she would like to sell them. I assume she wanted to know if any of us were interested.

KC_Jones

For me the judgement is of the contractor that convinced you tearing out that system was a good idea. That opinion is usually from a lack of knowledge, this concept upsets me as a homeowner. If the contractor is not an expert on everything they are giving you opinions on, they should not be giving you opinions. I would suggest the contractor you had was not very knowledgeable on heating and especially steam heating to have convinced you to tear it out.

Regardless of if it's hot water or steam, most that know will tell you that cast iron is the superior heat transfer material, and absolutely obliterates forced hot air when it comes to comfort.

I am of course assuming someone convinced you to go forced hot air in this instance, please correct me if I am wrong.

Bottom line for me, if comfort is a criteria for a heating system, forced air is at the bottom of that list, cast iron rads are at the top.

What's done is done, I am posting in case someone else comes across this later, so perhaps we can give the next homeowner quality information about their situation prior to tearing things out.

Tinman

But in the case, the project was already moving in another direction. Like someone said earlier, what's done is done. I would have loved to buy one of them to add to my collection.

KC_Jones

@Steve Minnich Is that valve newer, if so where did you get it? It looks so nice.

Tinman

@KC_Jones - No. As far as I know, it may be the original that came with the radiator? Both the valve and the radiator were covered with at least ten coats of paint. I stripped them down as best I could, repainted the rad, and kept the valve bare. Its sitting in our living room now. If we had a basement, I'd install a new steam system just for the fun of it.

ScottSecor

Jenn, I think this website mostly for people interested in steam and hot water heat. I'm guessing you noticed that when you signed up. Most of us are contractors that earn our living making repairs, installing and designing hot water and steam heating systems. Many of have been in this business for a long time and when we see someone is selling every radiator from their house it normally means a "wet" heating contractor just lost a customer. I certainly cannot speak for everyone, but I'm guessing another house that formally heated with steam now heats with warm air heat.

For my business, we almost never purchase or use used radiators. For us, it makes no sense to; drive to a house with at least two men and an empty truck, struggle to gently remove very heavy radiators without damaging the house, drive them back to our shop and test every one of them. If they pass the leak test, we then would have to store them until we needed them on another job.

I do apologize that I cannot offer any help. I'm guessing there are other sites that mat be able to help you sell your radiators.

Tinman

The picture is when it was sitting in the office of my shop.

Tinman

@ScottSecor - Radiator deals have been made on heatinghelp before. Why stop now? Other than the certainty that the seller will be put in “the box” and grilled by hydronic detectives 😎

ScottSecor

Ok, fair enough. If I could get one that looks like Steve's (in that condition without spending an entire weekend having to refurbish it) I might be able find a place for it. I would proudly display it in my office for others to see.

Erin Holohan Haskell

@Jenn - If you do not find a buyer here, take a look at these companies that may be interested: https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/where-to-find-used-radiators/ @Ecorad is in CT.

Mike_Sheppard

If I can’t find a house one day with a steam heating system, I will install one myself.

ethicalpaul

Steve Minnich said:

@ethicalpaul - Her very first post says she would like to sell them. I assume she wanted to know if any of us were interested.

That's possible, but when I want to sell something, I don't ask for "any help", I say "Does anyone want to buy these?" and I include my location and some information about the items for sale

It seemed to me that she wanted help on how to sell them, but I wasn't sure so I finally asked.

brandonf

I think we imposed our ideology a little too much this time. I've learned a lot of people don't like to hear conflicting opinions on decisions they are happy with. If they come back complaining then it may be a more appropriate time for such talks. @Jenn please check out ecorad since they are local to you. Best wishes.

mikeg2015

Mike_Sheppard said:

If I can’t find a house one day with a steam heating system, I will install one myself.

Nice!

One can dream

ChrisJ

Hopefully everyone didn't drive her away.......

Jamie Hall

I reached out to @Jenn personally offering to help out, since she is apparently near by me. I have received no response --- not even a thank you. Oh well...