Please help .Is this a good idea ???

adilson001

Hello I just purchased a multi family with cast iron heating system now sometimes the radiators will randomly leak for example on the 3rd floor and tenants will not tell me until i randomly go into a unit and see a wet spot on the 2nd floors ceiling Can or should i make a galvanized steel pan that i can place under neath the raditor similar to a drain pan but no drain it will just catch drips ?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Typically, the radiators themselves don't drip. They usually leak from the valve itself; packing or union drips.

Sure, a pan will collect the drips and damage won't occur unless the pan overflows.

adilson001

Thanks just wanted something to buy me time. also i think they would be more inclined to call me if they have a pan nearly over flowing with water then they are to call me if its just a drip

mattmia2

Probably better to go to each emitter and clean everything up and get it in good shape then inspect it regularly.

adilson001

this is a very old house nearly every radiator leg is puncturing through the floor i have to remove them reinforce the floors so i was thinking might as well place a steel pan underneath them

BobC

If the leak is from the radiator valve a pan may not do you any good because the pan won't be under that valve.

Unless your getting the floors sanded and refinished repairing those floors is not cheap. You can get some strips of plywood cut and stained to match the floor and placed under the radiator feet. These strips will wear in time but it's a simple matter to replace them if that happens.

Bob

Jamie Hall

Feasible? Perhaps, depending on where the leak is. Good idea? No, not in my book. Spend the time and effort to find and fix the leaks.

Steamhead

@adilson001 , is this a steam or hot-water system? Where are you located?

adilson001

this is a steam system and i'm located in Brockton MASS. Also i'm not suggesting this so that i can ignore the leaks i'm looking into this as a way to prevent the leaks from doing any sort of damage i have 36 units in the building

Steamhead

adilson001 said:

this is a steam system and i'm located in Brockton MASS. Also i'm not suggesting this so that i can ignore the leaks i'm looking into this as a way to prevent the leaks from doing any sort of damage i have 36 units in the building

@adilson001 , you need to have a Steam Man look at this. There are plenty in the Boston area- go here:

https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/state/MA

AdmiralYoda

Well I suppose just to prevent a mess in the short term only, a cookie sheet or something similar under the radiator or leaky valve would catch the mess. I'm sure you can tell where it was leaking based on the water stains and/or damage.

Long term, get all the leaky radiators fixed as soon as you can. I'm no pro but as a homeowner I would be concerned with all the fresh makeup water being added to the system which could prematurely kill the boiler.

Post some pictures, they speak a thousand words here. And get in touch with a steam pro, if nothing else to have someone with a trained eye point out what you need to tackle yourself should you choose to do so.
My guess is that the previous property owner didn't maintain things too well and wouldn't be surprised if your boiler was set at an excessive pressure, etc.

@New England SteamWorks is a great steam pro and they are based out of RI and I believe cover SE MA. This may be right up their alley.

SteamingatMohawk

You said your building is 36 units. Brockton has an inspection program for rentals.

https://library.municode.com/ma/brockton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIREOR_CH4BU

Presumably, the size of your building is subject to inspections. I am not sure how system leaks fit into the applicable codes, but why would an inspector ignore known leaks in the system?

JUGHNE

If you have CI rads boring into the floor then you will have pipe settling with possible sags giving water hammer, wet steam etc.

Is that 36 rental units or 36 radiators?