installing a angle valve on a steam radiator

John_67

I'm a first time homeowner. The house is about 90 years old but with a fairly newer (within the last 7 years) boiler but with mucher older radiators. Everything I know about steam heat I've learned form this site and others over the past two weeks and from my science backround.

I'm trying to install new angle valve on a steam radiator on a one-pipe system. I striped the threads on which the paking bolts screwed on to, appearently it was already stripped and someone added extra packing into the bolt or at least that's what the nice gentleman from New Age Heating said. Of course, the valve didn't leak until I touched it. It rattled like crazy so I tighted the packing nut and it stopped, When it started rattling again it only made sense to tighten it more, right?

The problem I'm having is the valve leaks where it threads on to the steam supply/condensate return pipe. Also, when I attached the new valve to the steam supply/condensate return pipe, I had trouble lining up the valve with the pipe entering the radiator. If I tighten the the valve all the way down on to the supply pipe the valve ends up to be below the pipe entering the radiator. Because of this, I didn't tighten the valve on the the supply pipe on the way. BTW,I did not use any type a sealent on the threads. The guy at the supply house said if it leaks use pipe dope but I'm worried that won't work because the valve isn't tighted fully on the supply pipe.

Weezbo

if you took a picture,and posted it or sent it to me in an e-

mail, maybe i could help . recently i have discovered that my ability to determine what people are looking at, bears little, if at all any, resemblence to what i think they are looking at.

Chuck_12

don't short cut

First time homeowner doesn't mean CUT CORNERS. You are dealing with steam. Steam is intensely hot and extreme temps cause expansion tolerances. If the valve is stripped at the packing nut, get it repaired or replace it; don't chance steam excaping for sake of the system and your own personal safety. Don't sacrifice an installatin by partially installing the valve onto a few threads. Typically a pipe will have enough give that once you install the valve properly (one third to one half of the thread area) you can then carefully use a pry bar to bring up the valve to the proper height and alignment of the connecting union. Pipe sealant can be used on threaded joints (do not use sealant on the brass value union side) (care should also be used NOT to scour or scratch the union surface which could result in leakage) Nuthing wrong with a DIY project..... just be sure to do it RIGHT for your own satisfaction and safety.