[71Whaler]

So I recently had a new HVAC system installed (heat pump/gas furnance packaged system). My old system consists of an oil boiler and radiators. I am going to remodel the kitchen and expand into the room where the boiler is located so I need to remove it. The wife also wants the old cast iron radiators removed. So my question is how do I go about this? Here is what I am thinking:

1) Disconnect boiler from electrical, water supply and from oil lines.
2) Drain boiler using drain valve at bottom of boiler (New Yorker, ~ 20 years old)
Now the rest I am unsure of
3) crawl under house (crawl space) and cut piping to radiators one at a time. use buckets to catch water that drains from each radiator.
4) cut pipes so radiators can be pulled up from floor
5) either remove radiator as whole unit (guessing they are very heavy, most are 3' but one is 5-6') or gently break using sledge hammer
6) patch holes in hardwood floors
7) take cast iron to scrap yard to recycle

So any thoughts or advice? HVAC company wanted around $800 to do the job.

Thanks

 

[beenthere]

Your correct on most of it.

You'll find a union fitting on each side of the rad that you can screw apart to disconnect them from the piping.
You can cut the tie rods that hold the rads together, and pry the sections apart.

WARNING:
Lay down tarps when you remove rads from house.
Also, use rags in all openings.
You don't want the black gooey grime in those sections on your floors.

Or your wife may decide to become a widow.

 

[71Whaler]

Thanks for the info. I will check on the union fittings when I get home though I bet they are going to be fun to disconnect as the house is over 75 years old and the radiators are original.

I hear you about the tarps. We had the oak hardwood floors redone when we moved in 2 years ago and they look great. I mess them up and I'll be sleeping the yard. :laughing:

Can you use a pry bar to seperate the sections after cutting the tie rods or do you need to hammer them apart? Someone told me that you need to use a sledge.

Thanks again.

 

[beenthere]

Prybar.
Pried a lot of them apart with just a screwdriver, after the rods are cut(yea, it was a big screwdriver).

Sledge hammer is to break them.
Not needed to pry them apart.

 

[71Whaler]

Thanks. I appreciate the replies.