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A Makeshift Radiator

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Steve_211
Steve_211 Member Posts: 54
in Strictly Steam

Can a makeshift radiator be made out of black pipe nipples and tees, capped off, and a radiator air valve? Will it function and work?

Alan Welch

Comments

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 207

    Yes. If hot water can go thru it it will heat up and give off heat to surrounding cold
    WIll it work well? Will it work correctly?
    Will it give off enough heat?

    Who knows. Got to do the calculations.

    Grallert
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,216

    That was a standard thing back in the day. Do a web search for "pipe coil radiator".

    It should be pitched so the condensate can drain by gravity.

    But you still need to do the calculations if you hope to heat the space successfully.

    —
    Bburd
    ttekushan_3
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,067

    oh, and the pipe and fittings will cost you way more than a salvaged radiator.

    markdelzell
  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Member Posts: 54
    edited October 4

    Can’t find one small enough to fit in the closet the original radiator is in, mattmia2.

    reggi
  • PC7060
    PC7060 Member Posts: 1,750

    doesn’t have to be complicated. Single pipes are often used for small rooms. While this is a insulated steam riser with vent, you can do the same with a a single (or multiple) pipe

    image.jpeg
    ttekushan_3
  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 819

    Have a picture of the old radiator?

  • TPat
    TPat Member Posts: 5

    Have you thought about a slenderized radiator? I'm a homeowner. During bathroom renovation a few years ago, demolition revealed a capped riser pipe from our one-pipe steam system. I purchased a small Burnham slenderized radiator from Consumer Supply in Chicago for the bathroom, which had never had heat. The salesperson calculated what size I needed. The rest of the radiators in the house are vintage three-column. The slenderized radiator works great and doesn't require much space.

  • GrafHeating
    GrafHeating Member Posts: 10

    Horse stall heater?

  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Member Posts: 54
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1866850#Comment_1866850
    image.jpeg
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,067

    that's a convector cabinet. you could put a modern convector element in there although it will heat and cool faster than the original element so it may not balance well with the rest of the system. someone that deals in used radiators probably has a similar convector element. You could probably stack several pieces of baseray in there.

  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,216
    edited November 5

    That is a cast-iron convector element. @mattmia2 is correct about the balance problem if you replace it with a much lighter weight copper or steel fin tube element.

    You might be able to find something similar used, or replace the whole thing with something like a Sunrad recessed cast-iron radiator/ convector.

    —
    Bburd

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