Help Identifying Old Radiator Valve in Hot Water Forced System

sokolkapl

I’m hoping to get some assistance from the community in identifying an old valve connected to a radiator in my hot water forced heating system. I’m reluctant to disconnect to replace it with a standard 1/2" hot water angle radiator valve as it will not match to

IMG_3284.jpg

IMG_3285.jpg

floor hole, so I'm trying to figure out exactly what kind of valve this is before proceeding.

Details:

• The system is a hot water forced radiator system, not steam.
• The valve is heavily corroded, as seen in the attached image.
• It’s connected to a radiator and appears to be a manual control valve.

Given the age and condition of the valve, I’m looking for advice on:

1. Exact identification of this valve type.
2. If replacement is necessary, any tips or best practices for replacing this type of valve with minimal disruption.

I appreciate any insights or advice from those who’ve dealt with similar issues. Thanks in advance

Jamie Hall

Looking at it I'm thinking it is a quarter turn valve — ball or possibly a plug valve. Not sure I've seen the like, but maybe some of the guys have.

Now that said — I'm not at all sure that it is not repairable. I see very little corrosion on the actual valve body or the bonnet nut, though I'll agree that what is left of the operating handle is pretty sad. However, that's a nice square stem on there, so that's minor.

Considering the hassles involved in replacing a valve — such as getting the spud out of the radiator to get a new one in, and finding one with at least vaguely similar dimensions — I'd concentrate first on seeing if I could get it apart and cleaning it up and repacking it. Step one would be to clean all the gunk off the stem and nut, and then see if the stem would turn at all, one way or the other. Then see if the bonnet nut will come off (backup wrench on the valve body, please).

And do it now, before it gets cold…

Steamhead

It's a butterfly valve. I think these are still being made. You could get them with a handle which it looks like that one had, or with a screwdriver slot.

Jamie Hall

Of course. Thanks, @Steamhead . For some reason I never think "butterfly valve" in that size range…

Should be repairable, or replaceable if they're still being made.