How to pitch this beast radiator

Snowman1990

I need to pitch this radiator but it’s quite stationary with the 2 pipes. It’s the only radiator that doesn’t really get hot. Barely hot towards the valve end by the time of finishing hitting room temp.

I believe it’s the incorrect pitch. Has a new gorton D on it.

How can I pitch this and not mess up the piping? It clearly is pitched in the opposite direction of what is needed.

Jamie Hall

Radiator pitch almost never affects how much or how fast a radiator will heat Not to say that you couldn't lift the vent end slightly — but I doubt that it will make much difference.

However.

How fast does that inlet pipe get hot? Does it heat quickly, up to the valve? If not, where does that inlet line heat to? What I'm thinking about is two possibilities — that the inlet line may not be able to vent, or may have a sag in it, or that that valve is not, in fact, open when you think it iis.

EdTheHeaterMan

This might get you the pitch you want,

but I believe that you need a way to get the air out of the radiator and let the steam into the radiator. Can you remove the vent and see if there is anything coming out the vent opening of the radiator? If nothing is coming out the vent location, then remove the radiator and see if there is any steam coming out of the pipe.

Snowman1990

@EdTheHeaterMan amd @Jamie Hall so the pipe and valve do get nice and hot and then the first section of the radiator gets warm.

I will try removing the vent all together to see if it gets hot but I have a feeling it’s years of condensate that maybe never was able to return?

thanks

Jamie Hall

The condensate would all return. If, that is, the valve is open and the pipe clear…

Waher

I suspect the valve is clogged or otherwise no longer functioning as intended

Mad Dog_2

You can try goosing the air end with some wood 2 x 4s (wont scar wood floors) as a fulcrum and slide a few fender washers under each leg, but don't overdue it or you'll snap the brass spud.

Its so hard to tell from a picture, but it looks well pitched toward the inlet as is. Check that. Mad Dog

EdTheHeaterMan

@Snowman1990 said: "I will try removing the vent all together to see if it gets hot but I have a feeling it’s years of condensate that maybe never was able to return?"

YEARS of condensate? what does that look like. I have a bottle of water that has been in the back seat of my car for a couple months… I would still drink it. I didn't know that water from condensation had an expiration date.

OR

Do you mean years of debris accumulation? That can be checked out by removing the radiator by disconnecting the union fitting on that valve. Put something under the radiator, like a broken handle snow shovel, before you move it (after you disconnect it) so you don't scratch the floor. Then look inside with a flashlight to see if it is clear.

Snowman1990

understood yeah years of whatever can sit in a radiator. This is the only one pitched the wrong way in the entire house. I’ll report back with what I discover.

Thanks everyone

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Snowman1990

If it is not hammering or making noise its probably not a condensate issue. With that riser going up its going to be difficult to pitch.

If the pitch turns out to be the issue you have a choice:

Put the rad up on blocks and slide it away from the wall and connect it with 2 45 deg elbows with a close nipple between them or a 45 and a street 45 for a swing joint.