Need help replacing vintage hot water radiator.

Brwnidjess

Our home is a cape and was built in 1952. Last week we started renovation on our bathroom. The demolition guys decided to rip out the original recessed radiator housing and completely mangled it. I only have the cover left. I've been scouring the internet for days trying to find a replacement and have no idea what to do. Is there anything I can replace this with on the market today?

kcopp

I presume then it was not cast-iron.... A picture would help.

Brwnidjess

I believe it is steel. Here are some pictures and the damage. 

KC_Jones

Not to be smart, but if part of the remodel job was to keep that, then it’s the contractors responsibility to fix or replace it.  You should not be involved in this at all as far as I can tell.  I know that doesn’t help directly, but you need to put pressure (financial if necessary) on the contractor to fix their mistake.

pecmsg

A search of Recesses Radiators shows a lot
https://www.winsupplyinc.com/burnham/_/A-01041424  

I agree that’s the contractor responsibility. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

Take the outer casing and cover to a good sheet metal shop/fabricator. Maybe an autobody shop if you can't find anyone else. Since the inner cabinet is not seen they can straighten it out......worse case make a new one....but that is fixable by the right guy no problem. Take the cover with you so they can fix things up so it will fit.

As far as the heating fin tube I would have it pressure tested and straightened out then pressure tested again before being installed. If the fin tube is damaged beyond repair you can find a new one. See the attached. I have used these several time and for a bathroom it will be fine

Brwnidjess

Unfortunately we are firing the contractor. He has screwed up so much of this job we do not trust him to not damage our home more. From destroying our hardwood floor to disgusting sheetrock and spackling, this guy is going to end up burning down the house. 

Brwnidjess

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

Take the outer casing and cover to a good sheet metal shop/fabricator. Maybe an autobody shop if you can't find anyone else. Since the inner cabinet is not seen they can straighten it out......worse case make a new one....but that is fixable by the right guy no problem. Take the cover with you so they can fix things up so it will fit. As far as the heating fin tube I would have it pressure tested and straightened out then pressure tested again before being installed. If the fin tube is damaged beyond repair you can find a new one. See the attached. I have used these several time and for a bathroom it will be fine

This is amazing, excellent advise, thank you. We have to try to get the inner cabinet back as the contractor took it to try to fix it himself. Luckily we have his tools so if he wants them back he will bring it back. 

Jamie Hall

Slightly off topic -- but check and make sure that he doesn't slap a mechanic's lien on your house.

EdTheHeaterMan

Look at this catalogue. Perhaps you will find something close to your old convector. Semi-Recessed is on page 4. Full recessed is on page 5.
https://www.literature.mestek.com/dms/Sterling Commercial Hydronics/Convector/CC-14R1.pdf
It will need to be ordered from a supply house that deals with Sterling. Your Local Plumbing / Heating Supply house. This is not easily selected on line. Go in person to a supplier. This is a special order item for most supply houses.

EdTheHeaterMan

Just guessing from the pictures, if your old radiator is 20" wide and 26" tall and 6" deep, then this one on Page 6 Table 1 indicated by blue circle. (a combination of the 3 red circle dimensions) is what you would order. (Your actual dimensions may vary.) The salesman at the supply house would then call the Sterling Rep and place the order.
That is how I would do it if I was your contractor's plumber. Most contractors would be qualified to screw this one up, and end up calling a Plumber to get the boiler drained, the new radiator connected, and the boiler refilled and recommissioned for heating service, with all the testing and related procedures necessary therein.

Hope this helps.

Mr. Ed

STEVEusaPA

If you completely gutted the room, and you plan on insulating the walls/ceilings/underfloor, maybe you don't even need a convector that big and can go with something sleek/more decorative and/or even a towel warmer. Or radiant floors, or radiant ceiling and ditch a convector all together.
First you'll need to figure out how much heat (btu's) that room actually needs.

HVACNUT

Dollars to donuts that's a monoflo system so be careful what you put back. If its another convector, make sure they install a bleeder. 

Steamhead

Beacon-Morris makes some very nice convectors:

https://www.beacon-morris.com/residential-and-commercial-convector

@Brwnidjess , where are you located?

ChrisJ

STEVEusaPA said:

If you completely gutted the room, and you plan on insulating the walls/ceilings/underfloor, maybe you don't even need a convector that big and can go with something sleek/more decorative and/or even a towel warmer. Or radiant floors, or radiant ceiling and ditch a convector all together. First you'll need to figure out how much heat (btu's) that room actually needs.

 Shouldn't a towel warmer be plumbed into domestic hot water so it's always warm?

Brwnidjess

STEVEusaPA said:

If you completely gutted the room, and you plan on insulating the walls/ceilings/underfloor, maybe you don't even need a convector that big and can go with something sleek/more decorative and/or even a towel warmer. Or radiant floors, or radiant ceiling and ditch a convector all together. First you'll need to figure out how much heat (btu's) that room actually needs.

Yes, that was one of the issues, he told us he was replacing the insulation then just sheetrocked over 70 year old insulation. We are taking it all down and doing it ourselves. These are excellent ideas. Thank you. 

Brwnidjess

Steamhead said:

Beacon-Morris makes some very nice convectors: https://www.beacon-morris.com/residential-and-commercial-convector @Brwnidjess , where are you located?

@Steamhead we are central Long Island.

STEVEusaPA

ChrisJ said:

Shouldn't a towel warmer be plumbed into domestic hot water so it's always warm?

That's an interesting idea, however, if domestic goes thru the towel warmer first, I would think the hot water may not be hot enough at the fixture.

I was thinking towel warmer as a radiator for additional btu's for heat, with a side benefit of warming towels-not a dedicated towel warmer. If you need that, throw it in the dryer for a few minutes before you shower.

EdTheHeaterMan

I installed several towel warmers and always connected them as radiators. Towel warmer in the winter and towel rod in the summer. Why would you want to constantly use heating energy while you are using the air conditioner? If you want a warm towel in the simmer time then you need a different appliance. Hydronic towel warmer is a concept to save space in a sometimes very small room. Since you are going to put a towel bar on the wall anyway, why not put the heater there also? Now you don't need to find a special radiator to fit in a place that might be in the way of the door or something. ...AND they look nice in some bathrooms with different designs to match different decor.

Just an old fart's thoughts.

Steamhead

Brwnidjess said:

Steamhead said:

Beacon-Morris makes some very nice convectors:

https://www.beacon-morris.com/residential-and-commercial-convector

@Brwnidjess , where are you located?

@Steamhead we are central Long Island.

Go here to find someone who can fix this properly:

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

ChrisJ

EdTheHeaterMan said:

I installed several towel warmers and always connected them as radiators. Towel warmer in the winter and towel rod in the summer. Why would you want to constantly use heating energy while you are using the air conditioner? If you want a warm towel in the simmer time then you need a different appliance. Hydronic towel warmer is a concept to save space in a sometimes very small room. Since you are going to put a towel bar on the wall anyway, why not put the heater there also? Now you don't need to find a special radiator to fit in a place that might be in the way of the door or something. ...AND they look nice in some bathrooms with different designs to match different decor. Just an old fart's thoughts.

In my mind the towels are good insulation so there should be little heat output and I want them warm whenever I use them not just when the heat is on.


@STEVEusaPA I have recirculating hot water so I'd run the return through the warmer first.

But my bathrooms need actual heat so a towel warmer would be a joke.  Not sure how the behavior would be in a modern sealed and insulated bathroom 


My thoughts were I love a towel off the steam radiator first thing in the morning.  Oh that's nice ..... But sadly it only happens when the heat is on.   

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

They also make electric towel warmers which makes installation easier. Cheap to run if you have solar panels for your electricity. Warm towels are nice!

Shouldn't a towel warmer be plumbed into domestic hot water so it's always warm?

They would have to be non-ferrous which limits your choices. You would also have to oversize it if you're running low DHW temperatures.