Disassembling a steam radiator

Joe_40

We recently remodeled the bathroom - The placement of the new tub and towel rack obsoleted the old radiator - too big. I recently went to a scrap yard and picked up a short radiator for $5 - although the height is correct the radiator is too long, too many sections. Can on or more sections be removed? Are there gaskets between sections? Anything to be carefull of with a "junkyard" radiator?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Look for the radiators that have threaded rods running across them. These can be disassembled and reconfigured quite easily. They assembled with tapered push nipples.

If you don't see the rods then they are assembled with threaded nipples and after decades of service are considered "permanently connected".

For obvious reasons the sizable ones are considered a bit more valuable. If you can't find any keep looking for one that will fit the physical space. Note that if the replacement is significantly smaller than the original and your original heat level was good, you'll likely wind up with a cooler bathroom

Used rads generally aren't a problem. Before buying look for carefully for fresh-looking rust "stripes". These are often the result of cracking from freezing.

Rarely will you still find the valve attached. Unless you get lucky and everything is the same brand, the tailpiece left on the radiator probably won't mate properly with your existing valve. Hopefully you saved the valve AND tailpiece (most likely with bushing still attached) from your old radiator.

bob young

being large

do yourself a large favor and buy a new radiator or a piece of cast iron baseboard. either way is under a hunnert bucks and no grief factor. be big