How to Access Valve Union Leak in Small Steam Bathroom Radiator

mrcolumbia

Hi all. First post here so apologies if I slip on any best practices. I have a small partially built in bathroom radiator that has a leak at the valve union (see pictures, circled in red).

I've fixed leaks like this in the past on my other radiators (using the advice here) with some JB Weld red sealant, but those are normal-sized fully exposed radiators that are easy to access.

Does anyone have any idea how to service radiators like this one? Does that bottom grate open up somehow? I'm afraid to force anything as the thing is quite old.

ethicalpaul

They are very tight. You can pull open that grate you have circled...it should be hinged. I pulled mine out of my small bathroom so I could insulate the hole in the wall it sat in and insulating that hole made the bathroom stay warm enough that I never replaced it.

Don_175

That lower access panel opens up. Grab through holes in center and pull. There is a spring tab on top. It will rotate down. Then you can lift and remove it.

mrcolumbia

@ethicalpaul @Don_175 Got the lower panel off! Thanks guys - you gave me the courage to pull a little bit harder on it.