Radiator Union Troubles...

charles_2

hi - anyone ever encounter this? our contractor "assured" us that the radiator (one-pipe steam) would still fit, but of course, the union is now off by the thickness of the tile (i.e., the female half of the union on the radiator is now about 1/4" higher than the male union on the steam feed pipe coming up through the floor). aside from chipping out round holes for the radiator feet in the tile, does anyone make an offset coupler for a 1" union? i tried to uncrew the valve on the feed pipe to maybe raise it up a bit (it is threaded), but it won't budge and i don't want to force/break anything (house is from the 30's). i guess i could cut the valve off the feed pipe and extend the feed pipe, but that would be a bit over my head. any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

Christian Egli

Oh, the union is an optional part, I \"assure\" you! (No way)

Maybe with some luck the piping that feeds the radiator is long enough and far enough away from the main so that if you go into the floor space and loosen some pipe hangers you might be able to find your 1/4 inch.

Adding slope (uphill towards the radiator on your one pipe system) on your branch should be OK.

If you can do this, make sure you don't raise the main itself. That could cause water hammer.

To get the nipple loose, try a little penetrating oil overnight. It might be tricky. You'll need big tools.

I don't know of 1/4 inch offset unions.

What if you raise the opposite end of the radiator, that way, like a see-saw, you will lower your union end.

Good luck

ChrisL

Too high?

A straightforward solution assuming the pipes have no room to move is to saw the feet of the radiator off the 1/4" or whatever that the tile raised the floor. Dress the cuts with a grinder, paint, and you are good to go.

ChrisL

tommyoil

You had the contractors assurance

So how did this get dumped in your lap? I would probably take it up with him. That being said, if its a first floor rad. you have a better chance of raising it the 1/4". Find the piping below and push up the 1/4" and re-connect. You should be o.k pitch wise but check piping w/ a level to be sure. If its on the upper floors you may have a bit of a problem as it not as easy. Bear this in mind; even if you are able to get the existing valve off to "extend the piping" the extension will more than likely be too high in which case you'll be proping the rad up on some sort of blocks(unattractive) but may be your only recourse. With all due respect, I wouldnt go cutting or grinding the legs of the rad. Had a G.C do the same thing to a neighbor once. I Told the neighbor that the riser needed to be re-piped. G.C. vehemently disagreed and he ripped me a new bodily exit saying I didnt know what I was talking about. He said that HE would take care of it. He tried to cut and grind the legs and put the rad back after doing so. Neighbor came to my house at 2:00a.m when he had muddy water running across his new white tile and grout out of the now cracked rad. legs. Try getting boiler mud out of grout. Went the next day with a brand new rad.(which now doesn't match the others in the house) raised the piping, changed the valve, and sent the bill. Cutting and grinding sounds like a simple solution but let the grinder beware. Good luck!

ChrisL

hacks are hacks

Well,

I think you are confusing a hack job with a good solution. Any decent tradesman should be able to cut 1/4 off the radiator legs successfully. Not all radiators are the same, so a little judgement beforehand will help.

ChrisL

bob young

a simple solution

make a horizontal set with two 45 degree els and roll to precise elevation. put nipple and fitting into rad. and spud into last 45. replace valve and spud of course. case closed