Best way to pipe a thick steam radiator.

binary · October 27

Hi all,

quick question. The steam pipe is too close to the wall and in the corner. The radiator is thick and as is the valve won't be able to connect to the radiator.

Without breaking the floor, in order for the radiator to connect to valve, it need to be further away from the two walls in the corner.

Option A is the original design, the 90 degree steam angle valve comes out from the floor, connects to a 45 degree elbow and then an 3 inch nipple and into the radiator.

Option B is something I saw on an episode of This old house. An 45 degree elbow with one end being male gets connected to the steam angle valve, which puts the valve on a tilt. Then the radiator just connects to the valve, with an extension if necessary.

Can you seasoned experts if one way is better than the other? Is there any negative for the valve to the tilt ? Any concerns on steam return path? Is there any better way to do this? Any comments will be appreciated. As always thank you in advance.

Steamhead · October 27

I've done it both ways. Either will work.

JUGHNE · October 27

Was that new valve listed for steam…..it doesn't look "fat" enough to me.

EBEBRATT-Ed · October 27

Either way is fine. What you do may be determined by the radiator inlet pipe height and weather you can shim the radiator or not. You don't have to use brass fittings you can use black.

mattmia2 · October 27

Option a has more adjustability by using different length nipples. Option b will only work if you happen to need just the right offset.

EBEBRATT-Ed · October 27

The other option (and there are a few) is to put the valve on pointing along the radiator length. Put a 45 on the valve spud a close nipple and another 45 into the rad. You can adjust for height that way.

binary · November 7

Thanks for all the comments. So this is what the setup I ended up to go with. I shimmed up the vertical rise a little with a brass coupler and a near close nipple, so it will be easier if I need to replace it in the future. (Was only able to get 4 turns on that fitting coming out of the floor on the coupler and won't go further. Is that enough ?see pics)

One question, while I was cutting out the old valve, the valve seat (the piece that actually blocks the steam) pretty much broke into pieces due to age and fell into the pipe. Do I need to flush those debris out prior to turning on the boiler?

Thanks .

mattmia2 · November 7

you could probably clean up the threads on the nipple with a die and thread it on more but that will probably be ok. I wouldn't worry about the pieces of the old valve, but i'd remember it if something weird happens.

Best way to pipe a thick steam radiator.

Comments

Categories