Radiators - Retrofit

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

It's always a challenge to make the piping connections look good at radiators; even more so on jobs where the wall coverings aren't being touched and you have to come up through the floor.

Gerald, my journeyman wanted to run PEX all the way up to the radiators. He used a Rehau Everloc x MIP connector at the TRV with the ½" PEX tubing covered with a chrome sleeve. All of it is chrome except the adaptor.





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Dave Stroman

Looks cool. Wish it would it work with Wirsbo.

ALH

Another thing that looks nice is to use a stainless steel pipe nipple and make the pex connection beneath the floor.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

That's true

and that's what we used to do; just wanted to try out diffent methods.

PEX all the way to the radiator sure is a lot faster and looks almost as good.

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Karen_4

1928 hot water cast iron radiators

My 1928 Colonial in Vermont froze up and most of the radiators cracked. Can they be repaired? Where can I find replacements that are old or look old? I do not care for the look of the modern types as they seem out of sync with this historic house. The columns were "fat" and not thin like the ones I am seeing in current catelogues. Can anyone help me?

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Without

looking at them, I'd say your cracked radiators are history. At least I don't know of a reliable way to properly repair them so they won't give you any trouble.

Here are my notes on sources for traditional radiators:

Shafter Brothers - Montreal (jsacks@sf.fk.com)

Burnham Classic Radiators:
http://www.burnham.com/classicrad.cfm

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Dave DeFord

Another avenue...

may be to contact local demolition companies. Many times they are demolishing old buildings (look for companies working in the innercity) and may sell you old radiators. Just a thought.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

West Coast

Here in San Francisco, there's a commercial mechanical contractor that stockpiles radiators that they remove. Steam, hot water, ugly and pretty. Last time I checked, the were selling them for $100 ea. and it's up to you to cart them away, check for leaks and paint them.

You might want to check around for a mechanical contractor in your area.

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