Replacing a trap

Morgan Clark

How tough is it for an amateur to replace a trap? I've got a trap in the basement that I believe has failed open and is letting steam into the return line. Do I just turn off the boiler, take a pipe wrench to the hex portion on top to unscrew the old, then screw in the new to replace it? Will it just unscrew right off? And, is there a place on the web where I'd be able to easily order a replacement trap from? A picture of the trap in question is attached.

Or, am I inviting disaster by doing this? Doesn't seem like replacing a trap would be too hard, but I wanted to try to research it before messing anything up. Haven't been able to find much on this topic. Thanks for any advice you can give!

bob young

if you are not familiar wit working on heating components it could be instant disaster and no heat. the summertime is a good time to experiment with the unknown. then there is no rush to repair the damage you might do. sad but true.

Robert O'Connor_7

steam trap

It may be easier to replace it, rather than repair it. Someone already fooled with it by evidence of the tool marks represented on it's cover. Why not replace it then rebuild the old one for future use, and do so in better conditions (on the bench/vise). Don't fool with it, unless your willing to pay for a service call. wait boc

John Conway

amateur to amateur

Ain't ignorance grand? I'm in process of replacing traps around my house. Call a real steam guy. If I could find a professional, I'd call him. I REALLY would; he's worth the money.

If you do it yourself, you could snap the pipe. How much more do you want to pay the professional? How cold is it?

Having said all that, I haven't broken anything... yet. I bought a 1 3/8" socket to remove the trap cover. Be very gentle & patient. I can't see which trap you've got - my memory tells me there are a couple of different thermostats depending on body style. If the trap has been in place a while, and you buy a Hoffman replacement, you'll probably have to remove the valve seat with a 3/4" socket. (I don't know about other brand replacements.) Clean out the scale, etc. The old t-stat screwed into the cap, so you'll likely need pliers or vise-grips to remove the old one. The new Hoffman t-stat is an assembly with the valve seat. You'll use the 3/4" socket to put it in.

It isn't hard. It would just be expensive & cold if you break something.

How do you know this is the offending trap? If you're within reasonable distance of somebody who knows something, call him.

Buy Dan Holohan's We Got Steam Heat (unsolicited plug). Restrain yourself or retrain yourself.

DanHolohan

Great advice, John.

I'm curious. Where's home?

John Conway

home, sweet home

Greenville, SC (actually a bit west of the town, home of Shoeless Joe, etc.