Replacing old radiator vents

Jim S

When faced with the possibility of replacing old ,original looking vents on steam radiators ,what tricks do you guys use?

I`m especially interested in what you do when they snap off and leave a stub of pipe in the radiator.

Steamhead

Those vents are brass

so if they break off, just drill out the hole and run a 1/8-inch pipe thread tap thru it. Then install the new vent.

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Jim S

Thanks for

> so if they break off, just drill out the hole and

> run a 1/8-inch pipe thread tap thru it. Then

> install the new vent.

>

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> 157&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

> "Find A Contractor"_/A_

Jim S

Thanks steamhead

I appreciate the tip.

David Efflandt

Easy-out & pipe tap

It may help to have a 1/8" easy-out handy (kind of like a course reverse threaded thing that can fit inside if a broken nipple), along with 1/8" pipe tap to clean gunk out of the threads so you don't strip them.

I have one that is stripped and almost just held in by the pipe dope, but that is good enough at such low pressure. A couple of mine won't budge, but work, so I haven't touched them.