I am trying to remove a steam radiator for our flooring people that are coming. I have closed the intake valve and removed the upper pipe. the lower pipe seems to be vice like stuck. Looking at the threads makes no sense on which way to turn them. if i attempt to back-off the threads on any one of the 2 available turn points, they seem like they would tighten on to the previous one. and i cant seem to turn them at all. like they are stuck. any ideas on how to release this pipe from the radiator?
Removing steam radiator
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3,165 Posts
It goes the wrong way - it's how most steam rads are. You're tightening it instead of loosening it. it's contrary to righty-tighty and therefor not exactly intuitive.
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3,165 Posts
Start with lots of PB Blaster.jonny1968 said:
I had a crew replace all my supply valves and they just tore the old fittings off with a giant pipe wrench and two guys hauling on it. Then they replaced them. The bungs they muscled out too, but they also had to be replaced due to damage of removing them.
Tough job. Get yourself some spare parts and a REALLY big wrench.
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7,376 Posts
You will need to cut the copper, then re-solder after the job is finished.
Cut copper pipe
Thank you all for your help. I am new at this steam heat thing. I am going to cut the pipe. do I need to relieve pressure or drain the tank downstairs? There is no valve to stop water from leaking back out of the exit pipe. I will need to keep the floor as dry as possible for the wood floor install.
Thank you all for your help. I am new at this steam heat thing. I am going to cut the pipe. do I need to relieve pressure or drain the tank downstairs? There is no valve to stop water from leaking back out of the exit pipe. I will need to keep the floor as dry as possible for the wood floor install.
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487 Posts
Missouri Bound hit the nail on the head !! There is no radiator union shown in this photo so the easiest way to remove this radiator is to cut the copper in the hub area of the copper fitting and sweat the cut copper hub off the pipe. Sweat the new fitting on on the copper first and when cool dope and tape the threads and screw the fitting into the radiator. Then sweat the other end of the copper pipe into the nearest coupling or 90 on that run if you are not going to put in any radiator unions.
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