Is There A Cleaning Tool For Radiators?

Sherry Smith

I live in an older home with old radiators that have alot of small places that collect dust. Are ther special cleaning tools designed to reach into these little places? I also want to paint them. What paint do I need to use?
Thanks!

Mark Eatherton1

I use...

a canister vacuum cleaner with a 1/2" hose taped to the hose. It fits between the sections nicely. As for color, go to http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=38

Basicly, you can paint the radiator any color you want so long as it's not a metallic based color, like silver, gold copper etc. THe darker the color, the higher the heat emmision. You also should use a high temperature based paint, like stove blacking, or car engine block paint.

As Dan says, it pays to wander off the wall. That tidbit of information came from Hot Tech Topics in the column to the left:-)

ME

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Firedragon_4

You can also use this, my wife

loves it and has been using them for a long time:
http://www.fullerdirect.com/products_detail.asp?cat=1&subcat=5&ID=216

David Efflandt

Paint info

Radiator painting info is in Hot Tech Topics:
http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=38

What is interesting is that other than metalic paints, color makes little difference for cast iron radiators. While dark colors should radiate heat better, they are also better at absorbing heat. So I suspect that dark colors absorbing heat from adjacent sections and radiating it out the front surfaces ends up being about the same as light colors reflecting radiated heat off of adjacent sections.

Metalic paint can somewhat reduce the output of an oversize radiator.

Steamhead

I use a regular boiler-flue cleaning brush

These are available in different sizes, be sure to get one that fits the radiators you have. You may have to go thru a contractor to get one however.

Whatever paint you use, make sure it can withstand the heat in the radiator. Spray paint for car engines is a good choice, and available at most paint stores or home centers.

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scott75

I know Rustoleum makes a high temp spray paint. My neighbor used it to paint his boiler. Don't really know why, since the jackets cover it anyway.

Ken Ditchfield

I wouldn't worry too much about the temperature. In a properly operating steam system, the steam is about 215 degrees Fahrenheit. I've checked the surface temperature of radiators with an infrared thermometer, and it has never exceeded 212 degrees. I've had no problem with standard paints holding up to that temperature.