Capping off a riser?

Bathgate

I am going on my 2nd year of a steam leak that i have not been able to locate, although I believe it is under the floor on the second story.

I want to put in a shutoff valve in the basement where the riser goes upstairs.

I don't have the means to rip up the floor at this time and that floor isn't being used.

Would this be an abnormal request to make to a contractor?

Jamie Hall

No…not really. But. Not every plumber is going to have the necessary tools nor experience to be able to do it! A lot of plumbers — who do a very good job, don't get me wrong here! — tend to turn pale and run when they see iron pipe or have to contemplate threading something!

Two cautions — which they should be aware of but may not be — make sure the valve you install is "full port" — that is, when it is open, the passage is straight through and the same inner diameter as the pipe. And ball valves are vastly preferable to gate vavles…

Edit — and one more — make sure that the riser is held at as close to exactly the same elevation as it was before!

JUGHNE

Can you post a picture of the main tee, take off piping etc?

Bathgate

Thank you for your comments. I will try to get some pictures added this week.

Maybe I should look for steam furnace contractor instead of a plumber?

I would probably start with the company who currently does our annual boiler maintenance.

mattmia2

Where are you located? We may know of steam contractors in your area. Might make more sense to find a good steam contractor and ask them to find the leak.

ethicalpaul

one of my "clients" had a plumber do this for a similar purpose and the plumber did a great job with some kind of press fitting that he put on the steel pipe, with a full-port ball valve to close off the supply. It was a big one, too, I think 2-1/2"

mattmia2

megapress can do it. probably better to do it with threaded fittings if you can.