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Help with replacing valves on an 1920’s coal burning furnace

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Hollywogg
Hollywogg Member Posts: 2
in Radiant Heating

hi, I’m new to this kind of thing and don’t know where to turn to considering the age of the furnace. The valves on top of my parents old coal burning furnace are both leaking and I need to figure out how to replace them. I’m in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I’d like to do it myself but if it’s going to involve plumbing work then I know I’ll need professional help with it. Any recommendations would be great.

IMG_4037.jpeg IMG_4035.jpeg IMG_4034.jpeg

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,852

    Mercy. Why do they need replacing? If it's the stem leaking, that can be repacked — although getting the packing nut loose may be rather a job. If it's that they don't shut off, then…

    Yeah. You're going to need help.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Hollywogg
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,835

    From your picture, the valve appears to be leaking from the packing nut or packing gland.

    First, try tightening the nut. If that doesn't work, you can repack the gland.

    When you tighten the nut, it will compress the packing around the valve stem and should stop the leak.

    Hollywogg
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,835
    edited 7:43PM

    Also, a safety precaution. Do this with no pressure on the system. Since you are not a pro, I would advise that you do this when the boiler has no pressure and the boiler is off.

    Hollywogg
  • Hollywogg
    Hollywogg Member Posts: 2

    Thanks for the input folks! I’ll try tightening the nut, if that doesn’t work then most likely I’ll have to just call someone in.

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