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replacing steam radiator

rdema19403
rdema19403 Member Posts: 5
my wife friend has an old steam radiator what are the option replacing it with something newer than the one in this image i am posting
Thanks in advance

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    Main thing is to try and find one at least approximately the same size. One can buy new ones, although they are a bit pricey, but depending on where you are there are usually recycling places and junkyards which may have them, and they often turn up on Craigslist.

    How on earth did it busted like that?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • rdema19403
    rdema19403 Member Posts: 5
    no idea is does it have to be replaced by the same type of radiator any ideas if their is something newer it can be replaced with
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    No, it doesn't have to be replaced with the same type -- but unless you know that the old one was either too big or too small for the space, it would be wise to pick one with more or less the same capacity.

    You will probably have to replace the trap and valve anyway, unless you get really lucky and manage to get the old spuds out without damage and they fit the new radiator.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    That looks like freezing damage- is this a steam or hot-water system?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    JUGHNE1Matthias
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    Steamhead said:

    That looks like freezing damage- is this a steam or hot-water system?

    That's what I thought, too -- but the OP says steam, so...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    edited May 2018
    It may have been turned off at the valve, and had thus filled with water, and frozen.—NBC
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    I have seen a lot for radiators damaged by freezing. They almost always crack along the rib of the section. I have never seen one crack like this. It looks like hammer damage to me.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    . I have never seen one crack like this.

    I have. It's just a matter of where the weak point is.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • rdema19403
    rdema19403 Member Posts: 5
    i was wondering what could it be replaced with that is old technology any ideas what it could be replaced with or what is available? it is a hot water system
    Thanks in advance
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,616
    If it's replaced with a radiator of ± the same size (we can help check the sizes), the problems should be fairly straightforward. If the type of heat is changed (e.g. to baseboard), there will be significant issues that will need to be considered before-hand: an contractor experienced with hydronic work will need to be consulted.
    1Matthias
  • rdema19403
    rdema19403 Member Posts: 5
    the dimensions


    are 36inches x 28 x 10 inches
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    A common enough size... depending on where you are, many scrap and salvage yards have radiators. Which you have to check for leaks. You can also purchase brand new ones, but they are more expensive, naturally.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • rdema19403
    rdema19403 Member Posts: 5

    could you something like this to replace it?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    Sure. Just make sure that the EDR ratings are similar.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,576
    I think the classic cast iron model will be better, as its considerable thermal mass will retain the heat in between firings.
    Your illustration shows one more like a convector.—NBC
    RomanGK_26986764589