How do I remove a steam radiator

jack weston

First make sure you are trying to back it off in the right direction. The nut is actually attached to a nipple on the radiator (not on the valve) and it is a right-hand thread, so make sure you are forcing it in the correct direction (not accidently tightening it). Penetrating oil and a long cheater bar have always helped me when needed, but there should not be that much torgue on that fitting (try it, but make sure you're going the correct direction).

Jim Pfaendtner_2

How do I remove a steam radiator?

Hi,

I'm trying to remove a steam radiator in my kitcehn. There is an approximately 2-3" OD pipe which comes up from the floor, connects to a value with a 90 degree bend which connects to the radiator. It's pretty clear that the radiator connects to the value with a screw-on fitting. I have wrenched on this mofo very hard with a big pipe wrench but I haven't gotten anywhere. Do I need to use some penetrating oil or something? another thought I have is to get a big pipe and stick it on the end of the pipe wrench to increase the torque.

thanks

Jim Pfaendtner_2

How do I remove a steam radiator?

Hi,

I'm trying to remove a steam radiator in my kitcehn. There is an approximately 2-3" OD pipe which comes up from the floor, connects to a value with a 90 degree bend which connects to the radiator. It's pretty clear that the radiator connects to the value with a screw-on fitting. I have wrenched on this mofo very hard with a big pipe wrench but I haven't gotten anywhere. Do I need to use some penetrating oil or something? another thought I have is to get a big pipe and stick it on the end of the pipe wrench to increase the torque.

thanks

Jim Pfaendtner_2

How do I remove a steam radiator?

Hi,

I'm trying to remove a steam radiator in my kitcehn. There is an approximately 2-3" OD pipe which comes up from the floor, connects to a value with a 90 degree bend which connects to the radiator. It's pretty clear that the radiator connects to the value with a screw-on fitting. I have wrenched on this mofo very hard with a big pipe wrench but I haven't gotten anywhere. Do I need to use some penetrating oil or something? another thought I have is to get a big pipe and stick it on the end of the pipe wrench to increase the torque.

thanks

Jim Pfaendtner_2

How do I remove a steam radiator?

Hi,

I'm trying to remove a steam radiator in my kitcehn. There is an approximately 2-3" OD pipe which comes up from the floor, connects to a value with a 90 degree bend which connects to the radiator. It's pretty clear that the radiator connects to the value with a screw-on fitting. I have wrenched on this mofo very hard with a big pipe wrench but I haven't gotten anywhere. Do I need to use some penetrating oil or something? another thought I have is to get a big pipe and stick it on the end of the pipe wrench to increase the torque.

thanks

Mike T., Swampeast MO

You might be turning wrong thing or wrong way

Radiators almost always connect with union(s).

The union nut will be the one closest to the valve (or angle connection). It stays "connected" to the RADIATOR SIDE!!! So, to loosen:

If it is on the right hand side of the radiator, turn up and back with the wrench.

If it on the left hand side of the radiator, turn down and towards you with the wrench.

IMPORTANT: almost all are brass and brass is quite soft so be careful! The good thing about it being brass is that brass is quite non-reactive and the unions are generally very easy to loosen and tighten many times without much difficulty or risk of damage.

Pipe wrenches are almost always used in pairs (to avoid turning things further down the line and to avoid damage). In this instance though (a valve or angle union) it's really hard to use them in a pair as there usually isn't a place to grip with the 2nd wrench. Again BE CAREFUL as old steam pipes in particular can be both extremely stubborn and surprisingly delicate.

When you reattach, clean everything--especially the mating surfaces and make it tight but not too tight. It's much easier to firm up the connection if it leaks than to replace everything if you overtorque and damage the union. Since almost all unions seal by way of metal-to-metal contact you don't usually don't need to use pipe dope or teflon tape on the threads.

If you have to start removing pipes for your remodeling BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL!!! Again, old steam pipe joints can be particularly difficult to "break" and it's quite easy to cause damage. Make absolutely certain you know what you are doing and make certain that you use pipe wrenches ONLY in pairs. More than a few have done this, made a mess, got intensely aggravated (usually after some destruction to gain access), and finally called someone in to fix it...

bob young

maybe it is connected with a left and right bushing