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Need a temporary quick fix.

Bathgate
Bathgate Member Posts: 3
edited January 6 in THE MAIN WALL

I noticed one of my steam radiator vents is broken. Steam comes pouring out and im losing water

I tried to replace it but the valve just keeps turning. It is not unscrewing from the radiator.

I want to break it off and plug it up with something to shut off the radiator until i can get it fixed.

Any suggestions?

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,512

    1/8" Plug

    That will shut down that radiator.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,848

    If the threads are worn out, you may have to drill and tap the hole at 1/4" pipe size which is larger than the current 1/8" IPS pipe thread you have now. A Good hardware store or McMaster Carr on line can get you what you need. Then use a 1/4 x 1/8 pipe bushing

  • Bathgate
    Bathgate Member Posts: 3
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1832400#Comment_1832400

    would a 1/8" plug still fit if the threads are still in the hole?

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,225

    Crack the vent off from the threads. Use a small pliers. Then use the small pliers to unscrew the threads from the radiator

  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 833

    With the heat off try pulling it while unscrewing it.

    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager, teacher, dog walker and designated driver

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,978

    For a temporary disabling of the radiator, assuming the supply valve isn't working (they often don't work to disable a radiator), you can carve a wooden dowel into a cone shaped plug and gently tap it into the hole. You could wrap it with electrical tape to make the seal better.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • Bathgate
    Bathgate Member Posts: 3

    Thank you all, great suggestions. I will try them tomorrow.

  • mattmich
    mattmich Member Posts: 135
    edited January 6

    For a Maidomist #4, toothpicks work a great.
    For the larger ones, a dime placed over the hole works nearly as well.

    All my old vents are cone shaped with multiple holes. I'd just use electrical tape and or a sandwich bag. If no air can get out of the vent, the radiator will stay cold and won't soften any glues or plastics.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,978
    edited January 6

    I misread your initial post. You can get a spinning Maid O Mist off with a pipe wrench on it or channel-locks. Crunch down on it a little.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    PC7060
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,848

    @ethicalpaul wood plug is a good trick.

    I remember an old janitor at a big middle school out in the boonies in Vermont. They only had 1 big steel fire tube boiler (no back up).

    He came in one morning and water on the floor around the boiler (HW boiler). He opened the boiler and found tubes leaking.

    Went down to the wood shop and got on the lathe and made a bunch of hardwood tapered plugs.

    ethicalpauldelcrossvCLamb

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