Rusted out steam lines in concrete slab, excavation vs. moving the radiator?

rhodebump · January 2022

Hi,
We have a church built in 1904 with a some 2-pipe radiators. One of the radiators is located in the rear of the church. The existing (and rusted out) steam and condensate line run under a six-inch old concrete slab with 1 (or 2) inch marble tile floor over top. I estimate about 20 feet of line.

I have spent a few hours trying to "tunnel" under the slab from the church basement. I did not make much progress and I do not think that is a viable option.

I used a concrete saw and a demo hammer to remove a section of the marble floor and concrete slab. While doable, it's going to be a lot of effort to do this for 20 feet. It will also ruin a significant portion of a beautiful 100+ year old floor of marble.

Another option is to move the radiator a few feet where underneath the radiator is not slab on grade. Just the rear 6 feet of the church is a slab on earth/grade, but if I move the radiator a few feet, it's just a suspended concrete slab, and I can easily run steam/condensate lines (well easier than excavation!)

Moving the radiator is the easier option, but I am loathe to move something that the "dead men" installed. I am looking for the right choice/option, not necessarily the easy option.

What would you do?

Thank you!

I did a movie of the whole thing if you want to see it in video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDBWZtJq2k0

Steamhead · January 2022

Moving it to the spot under the window should work, as long as you can get enough pitch on the pipes.

JUGHNE · January 2022

That looks to be a storage room for the kitchen, so placement may not be critical.
Also you have maybe 3 compressors in there and maybe a good door.
Things they did not have in 1904.

rhodebump · January 2022

JUGHNE said:
That looks to be a storage room for the kitchen, so placement may not be critical.
Also you have maybe 3 compressors in there and maybe a good door.
Things they did not have in 1904.

I did not think of that!

Jamie Hall · January 2022

As they say -- move the radiator. Just do make sure the pitch on the lines is correct.

rhodebump · January 2022

Thank you everyone!

One last question. The old radiator location used a dedicated branch from the boiler (not the main). The steam line looks to be 1.5 inches.

Where I am re-locating the radiator, there is already a set of lines (they are capped, no rad) They are about 1 inch diameter, and at the end of the main (at the end of around 210 foot run of main).

I am nervous because I worry there would enough steam left at the end of the run, but perhaps it doesn't work that way.

Would you use the existing lines, or run a line from the boiler near piping (already have 2 inch plug ready to remove)

Thanks.

PC7060 · January 2022

Following up on @JUGHNE comment; what’s the temp of the room without the rad on the coldest day? Do you need the radiator given the heat produced by the refrigerators?

rhodebump · January 2022

PC7060 said:
Following up on @JUGHNE comment; what’s the temp of the room without the rad on the coldest day? Do you need the radiator given the heat produced by the refrigerators?

It's about 60 degrees on a cold day, even with the refrigerators running.

Rusted out steam lines in concrete slab, excavation vs. moving the radiator?

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