removing length from vertical riser

John_80

Hi,
Someone was kind enough a couple weeks ago to tell me that I needed to remove a couple of inches from a vertical riser that goes from the basement up to a 2nd floor radiator (which isn't heating). How does one remove length from a vertical riser? It's a copper pipe (at least the bottom part is - up on the 2nd floor it looks like an old pipe). And not more than say 6 to 10 inches of it is visible down in the basement - then it extends up through the woodwork (it's not exposed like most of the other, older pipes that are in the corners of rooms, etc.). I'm hoping taking length off the riser will allow the 2nd horizontal to pitch properly.
Thank you!

t. tekushan

hello again

How does that copper pipe connect to the main in the basement?

I'm guessing that at the bottom of the riser there is a threaded fitting soldered to the copper line that is screwed into the older iron pipe. If so, the line can be cut there, the old copper fitting unscrewed, and a new one installed, and then soldered to the copper riser.

Tricky part- how much to cut out:
If I recall correctly, the horizontal run-out leading to the copper riser was not pitched upward enough, but when this was brought up the problem moved to some concealed area.

I'd measure the distance of the repitched horizontal run-out to, say, the cieling or joist. This gives you a starting point. Then remove the hanger, and allow the run-out to drop to its previous "comfortable" level. Remeasure to ceiling or joist. This is what you will need to remove. When complete, the run-out to the riser and the concealed horizontal should both be pitched properly.