Plug removal on a steam line

Greg_27

Hey all,

I have a radiator which was disconnected at some point, and the shaft leading to the main had a plug inserted. I want to reconnect the radiator, but the plug has a resonable amount of rust, plus it's in an area that I can't get big tools into.

Is it okay to spray it with a bunch of rust breaker, or WD-40 to help get it free, or would that amount of oil be a problem for the steam system?

Steamhead (in transit)

Penetrating oil is worth a shot

but if that doesn't work you'll need something more powerful. It's possible to heat a fitting with a torch to expand it and break the rust bond, but that can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

If the plug is in the elbow where the horizontal pipe turned up to the rad, you might be able to unscrew the other end of the pipe to get the elbow out of the tight space. Then you could simply replace the elbow if the plug wouldn't come out.

If it doesn't come apart easily, it'll be time to call a pro.

"Steamhead"

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Handyman 242

How to break the rust

The Rust may not be the real problem. Steam has a way of almost welding fittings and pipe together. You say you have a "plug" into the pipe. Pipes have male threads and plugs have male threads so they normally don't go together unless you use a welding machine. I would suspect you have a cap on a male pipe thread, in which case I would take a sawall put a cut into the side of the cap the length of the threads with out hitting the male threads (I hate it when that happens). At this point I would spread the seam with a steel chiesel. That should loosen the cap to remove. If in fact it is a plug it has to be going into a female thread, (Coupling, Ell or Tee). If it is a cast iron ell (big hub on ell) you can break the fitting by hitting it with a 3 lb hammer. Back up the fitting with another hammer so you don't break anything else. Replace the fitting and away you go. The dead men knew that steam welded the fittings this way that is way they used Cast Iron fittings that could be broken. If it is a steel coupling or maliable ell use the sawall as if it was a cap to remove the fitting and away you go. If it is infact a plug into a tee my best advice is to drill a hole in the end of the plug away from the inside of the threads.
then by using a hack saw blade (put tape on it so you can hold it, you may also have to cut the back of the hack saw blade off so you can fit it into the hole) cut the plug towards the threads. Cut an additional slot towards the thread taking out a small pie shaped piece of thje plug. At this point a pipe wrench on the threads of the plug (assuming some are exposed) with colapse the plug and break it free. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it is easier then opening a wall in a house where you have broken off a steam line. Maybe you sould call a professional.

Tim_16

Plug removal

Here is a boilermaker trick for removing plugs.. Heat the plug cherry red and cool it quickly with water..Then unsrew it with a socket.