Pricing on refurbished cast iron radiators
Doing a case study for a potential business idea… How much would you guys pay for an avg sized cast iron radiator that has been sandblasted & repainted to look more modern?
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Pennie’s.
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That is a rare occurrence, and often something from the scrap metal dealer will be good enough to replace a busted or leaking radiator. Painting is up to the homeowner when the system is back up and running. Replacing frozen radiators that have cracked is the most common cause of needing a replacement CI radiator. I don't believe there is a big market for new construction needing refurbished CI radiators. Boiler replacement is more often the job that we are called to do. All the radiators are usually just fine on those jobs.
Just an opinion from a retired oil heat & boiler man.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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these guys seem to have a market for refurbished cast rads.
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Hat's off to Canada!
Um…better keep that hat on.
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Unfortunately, as beautiful as they are, the market demand for them is very, very small. Ask me how I know....Mad Dog
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I always keep an "eye out" for them. They are wonderful heating devices from a bygone era that have stood the test of time and peform superbly— even into the future.
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It's a rare customer who wants a cast radiator or a good sales person who can sell one. If someone is looking to head with water they are more likely to go with radiant or panel radiators. In some cases I've been able to sell a cast radiator for an entry way, you know to warm your mittens on. It's a small market.
Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse teacher, dog walker and designated driver
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That’s really a nice website and resource. It’s neat that each refurbished radiator has its own name!
I wonder if they only sell in Canada.
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I can't necessarily address pricing, but a company I work with I believe sells several thousand used radiators a year here in Chicago. He's completely reinstalled all the radiators in many multi-unit buildings that are being brought back after sitting abandoned and all the radiators were stolen.
To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
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Castrad brings new radiators in through Canada and NYC.
Not all radiators hold up to the 400 degree powder coat ovens.
If it has rubber seals??
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
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It's a very small market in most areas. Here in the Detroit area I refer my customers to a powder coating company so they can go look at the samples and drop it off. I will usually just uninstall and reinstall the rads once they are done.
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
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They generally are metal to metal seals with some sort of pipe dope, either left-right nipples or push nipples. It is possible the extra expansion from the powder coating oven could make them leak although I don't think that is very likely.
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I think they are being removed for heat pumps faster than being replaced ?
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Curious on your thoughts on people who remove cast iron steam/oil/gas in favor of heat pumps.
Pros/cons?
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Stupid. Those buildings will never be comfortable again, and will use more energy in vain attempts at comfort.
Co-Founder, All Steamed Up, Inc.
Baltimore, MD, USA
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…and they will be lucky to last half as long as the boiler.
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no pros going 100% heat pumps.
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Most women (not trying to disparage them) think CI radiators are ugly, and some think they are a danger to toddlers who will get burned to a crisp.
When we were little, we grew up with steam in old houses and learned to stay away from them.
Who wants to fight that battle that can't be won?
Little Tommy gets burned and you will hear about it until the day you die.
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I respectfully disagree with opinions suggesting no market for re-furbished cast iron radiators
At least in New England its profitable for Radical Radiators just outside Boston
Here are LINK S
About — making people warm... (HOME)
Radical Radiator Restorations in Malden, MA 02148 - 617-733...
a number of years back,I purchased a radiator from them to add to my system and matched perfectly with others, though not cheap . They do test, sandblast, prime and paint before sale
Regards,
RTW
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In NE heat pumps are great for the shoulder seasons and any mold winter days but if you size them for a cold winter day you will be oversized come summer. My Minisplit was installed in 2016 and it keeps the first floor nice and comfy on hot days and on fall and mid spring days is cuts down on boiler run times.
Bob
Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
3PSI gauge
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There's a place in Duluth that advertises in a few regional sources I've seen = this might be them:
(can't be sure as it doesn't come in on any web browser I use; maybe works better on yuppie i-phones)
I, a house-owner not a hydronics specialist, may call them to get replacements for a couple 1960s-70s replacements in future (if I don't see any proper sized at the Restore first). My 100 year-old ones are perfect and beautiful and strong and US made. I've seen adverts for expensive modern radiators also, so starting with the big rich cities I'd expect this to expand outward, esp. as 'high technology' becomes more expensive & less convenient.
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biggest issue with reusing them is the shipping. If local that’s not a problem, 100, 200, 1000 miles trucking that amount of weight is big $’s. Needs to be strapped to a pallet and a fork truck or pallet jack needed to move.
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