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For the last 2 months my steam heating system has been my nemisis… It was neglected for years and I’ve been changing steam traps and supply valves to get the thing tweaked and working better.
I recently had one radiator start leaking from the bottom. the cast iron sections seemed to have pulled apart only on the bottom, and it is leaking in 2 places from these opened joints. I’ve never re-habed a sectional radiator before. Is this as simple as it looks?
It has 4 peices of threaded rod which snug the cast sections together (I tried just tightening the 2 rods on the bottom, but it didn’t close the gaps). Do I just remove he rod, carefully remove the sections, scrape away any corrosion, and then sandwich it all back in place?
Do I use something like WD40 to loosen sections to come apart?
Do I need to find someone to re-machine the surfaces between sections, or will wire brushing do it?
What about adding a thin layer of pipe dope between sections as I sandwich them back together?
Thoughts?
Thanks muchly…getting cold here in the Upstate NY winter….3 week old son doing OK, but the mother doesn’t seem too patient with my DIY mentality…
Replies
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For the last 2 months my steam heating system has been my nemisis... It was neglected for years and I've been changing steam traps and supply valves to get the thing tweaked and working better.
I recently had one radiator start leaking from the bottom. the cast iron sections seemed to have pulled apart only on the bottom, and it is leaking in 2 places from these opened joints. I've never re-habed a sectional radiator before. Is this as simple as it looks?
It has 4 peices of threaded rod which snug the cast sections together (I tried just tightening the 2 rods on the bottom, but it didn't close the gaps). Do I just remove he rod, carefully remove the sections, scrape away any corrosion, and then sandwich it all back in place?
Do I use something like WD40 to loosen sections to come apart?
Do I need to find someone to re-machine the surfaces between sections, or will wire brushing do it?
What about adding a thin layer of pipe dope between sections as I sandwich them back together?
Thoughts?
Thanks muchly...getting cold here in the Upstate NY winter....3 week old son doing OK, but the mother doesn't seem too patient with my DIY mentality...