loosening a steam radiator

Unknown

Is there an easy way to loosen a steam rad from the inlet valve. Mine is really stuck and I want to move it away from the wall in order to clean it and paint it?

John@Reliable

24" to 36" pipe wrench if that dosen't work I would cut off with sawall and replace steam valve. PS Sometimes if rad. is to high on one end remove shims to relieve pressure on union which could also help!

Gary Fereday

loosening rad union

Pipe wrenches collapse around a pipe to grip it. Loosen your pipe wrench to the point that it just grips the union hub. then try it. Many times the tightly adjusted wrench will collapse the hub to the point that they will not loosen. Good luck! bigugh

Unknown

Try some heat !

Take a torch to it, heat up the union and then try to loosen the joint with a long pipe wrench, use a piece of black pipe over the wrench handle to give you more leverage. It works for me, hope it helps you out.

Unknown

If you have the space

Try loosening the union by tapping it on all sides with a hammer . Not too hard , or you might break the fitting off in the radiator . We do it all the time on steam unions around the near boiler piping.