We've already done everything wrong, can it be fixed?

Karen_6

We have your typical old victorian (huge) house. We've experienced a variety of heating problems with our 2 pipe steam system. We have radiators that heated up last winter that are not working this winter, and radiators that have not worked since we've been here, etc. We found a plumber who seemed to know steam systems, however, now that I have Dan's book (We've Got Steam Heat) I'm concerned about some of the things he has done, in particular - he installed air vents on my 2 pipe radiators. Can this be reversed? What are some other options? The book has been helpful but I'm not sure what to do next. I've had other contractors look at my system, shake their heads and leave. We've got water hammer, supply pipes that never get warm, dead ended pipes in the basement, crawl spaces that only a 10 year old can enter, and practically broke homeowners. Is there help out there? Oh, and where can I get replacement radiators for this system. We'd like to find similar "historic" style radiators. thank you

Bob Schultz

Karen...

Karen, you have come to the right place. By arming yourself with Dan's book you can now weed out the guys that think they know but don't. Try clicking on the find a pro link on the top left of the page and type in your zip...Robert O'Connor/NJ

Thad English

I second what Mr. O'Connor said: use the find a pro link.

As far as finding old decorative victorian style rads, there are several websites that can help:

recyclingthepast.com (real store in LBI, new jersey)

oldegoodthings.com (NYC & Scranton, PA)

Burnham makes new 'old-looking' rads that are gorgeous. I think their website is burnham.com.

If you go to the HotTechTopic section of Heatinghelp.com and search 'steam radiators', I believe some good contacts come up. Rads also turn up on eBay occasionally.
Good luck in your quest for a Great Steam Guy and new rads.

-THad

Mike G_2

Old radiators

Old (original) radiators can be found in many local towns and cities that have groups that promote historic preservation. Many of these groups maintain Artifacts Banks where people buy/sell/trade items from old houses. Items include mouldings, doors, windows, lighting fixtures, and radiators. Contact your local historic society or local/regional planning agency.

Mike G_2

Old radiators

Old (original) radiators can be found in many local towns and cities that have groups that promote historic preservation. Many of these groups maintain Artifacts Banks where people buy/sell/trade items from old houses. Items include mouldings, doors, windows, lighting fixtures, and radiators. Contact your local historic society or local/regional planning agency.

Karen_6

Thanks

Thanks for the advice. We will use Find A Pro at Dan's site to see if we can get some assistance.

Happy New Year. I'm sure I'll be back with another installment of this epic journey.

DanHolohan

Hi, Karen

Where do you live?

Jamie Hall

One further thought (or rather, two...)

First, you probably will find a pro here -- and they guys on here are all excellent! If you happen to be somewhere where there isn't one (as I am) Dan's book will help you and a really good heating man become competent pros (I find that plumbers are a little less clever with steam than really good heating men).

Second, unless something was actually removed or broken in your previous efforts to get things working, you will be able to recover and get things working again! Steam is, in some ways, very forgiving that way -- and replacement parts are available for almost anything that might have aged (like your radiators -- but also valves and traps and other mysterious gadgets of the sort).

Hang in there!