Joining radiators

davemasters12

I’m replacing all hydronic baseboards with radiators. I like these cast iron types: https://www.pexuniverse.com/16-section-4x19-cast-iron-radiator

I understand they can be joined, but all sections have two permanent feet. When joined the sections will have two sets of feet against each other. Is this standard or is there a better best practice?

GGross

Considering they are available from 4-40 sections in 2 section increments, why not just buy the size you need?

https://www.pexuniverse.com/uploads/literature/ocs-specs.pdf

ethicalpaul

These are a lot smaller than they seem, much smaller than "legacy" radiators. Make sure you get the EDR you are expecting.

how would you join them? They are kind of heavy to hold up and twist together. If you end up doing that, consider a union, but a single one would be better.

JimP

Definitely join them with a coupling of some sort. Off the top of my head they look like they’re about twice the output per foot of cast iron baseboard. Maybe you could spread them out in the room? One advantage of spreading out smaller ones would be that they’ll heat the room more evenly and are easier to physically handle.

JimP

I meant to say union not coupling.

xmorganx

These look like refurbished rads in which case surgery is possible. You cut off the foot section, add as many sections as you want with r/l rad nipples then reinsert the foot section. You will require a lot of patience and an extended rad key (which old plumbers who work for even older plumbing companies have). Your better (or at least easier) option is visiting your local scrap yard/rad distributor for used cast rads with the right output or checking out hudson reed for pretty looking fakes. Obviously you need to know more or less what output you need to do this. Be warned: baseboard systems are often calculated at 180. You want to keep your cast in the range of 140-150. So calculate well. Oversizing your emitters is never a problem, as long as they are evenlyish oversized.

Long Beach Ed

OCS will provide anything you want. These are made in China. Some leak.

Joining steam radiators end to end with a pipe isn't good practice and won't perform well.