Cast Iron Radiator Air Vent Leaking
TOCL&H
3 months ago
I have on an old style (early 1900's) cast iron radiator. The air vent valve has a crack in it and it's leaking water. I have two questions...
1--I was told I would need to replace the valve with a new 1/8" valve. Any tips on draining my system/isolating a radiator? I could really use a good tutorial on this.
2--Instead of replacing the valve, I'm wondering if I can put some type of a patch on the leaking valve. I tried JB Weld with no luck. Does anyone have a product that would work for this type of leak?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
Related Discussions
Replace Cast Iron Radiator
Comments (3)Burnham makes cast iron radiators that are made in the US. They have new plain jane radiators (see the "slenderized" line), and also more ornate radiators (see the "classic" line). http://www.burnham.com/radiant_products.htm You'll want to figure out your current radiator's output capacity. Once you know that, you can then judge if you want to get a replacement radiator that has less, equivalent, or more capacity depending on how well or how poorly the current radiator heats the room. Of course if the current radiator is heating the room poorly, there could be plenty of reasons as to why other than assuming it is undersized. Bearing that in mind, here is a site to help calculate the capacity of an existing radiator: http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator.htm The Burnham site has specs (link says "literature (pdf)" and that will help you find the physical size radiator you need to match the current capacity....See MoreReplacing two cast iron radiator
Comments (6)This may be a little late but maybe it will help. The easiest way to tell if you have steam of hot water heat is to look at your radiator and if your air vent is at the top you have hot water, 1/2 way up the radiator you have steam. If space is your concern the radiators are your best bet. You can replace them with baseboard heat but you will take up at least twice the wall space to match the BTU rating of the radiator.(heat value). One other thing to consider is the location of the t-stat. Cast Iron heats up faster than aluminum baseboard which means that if your t-stat is in a room with cast iron radiation, the t-stat room might be satisfied before your kitchen gets warm....See MoreHelp! New cast iron radiators leak... (cross-posted to HVAC)
Comments (3)The answer to your question about "miracle chemicals" is "oh hell no!" How long ago were these installed? You need a good answer from your plumber/manufacturer and one that doesn't involve a dime out of your pocket. Look, you have a defective product/installation. If it's a year or less, they absolutely need to stand behind the entire cost of repair. More importantly, they need to assure you that the actual problem has been addressed - you don't want to be replacing all of these in 3 years....See MorePainting Cast Iron Radiators with an “HVLP” Spray Gun
Comments (10)I did read one publication (I think it was a us govt pamphlet from the early 20th century) that said metallic paint reduces btu output, but haven't seen anything else on the topic. They came from the factory pre-primed and the seller recommends painting them. As a practical matter I don't know how you would preserve cast iron without painting it. These systems are-over designed anyways. They'll put out a 70 degree delta t from the odt, which you hit only a small percentage of the time, with a margin of error. The entire system is within the insulated envelope, and generates heat as long as the thermostat and/or the TRVs call for it. That heat will distribute throughout the house more easily than escaping it. Maybe in old systems where the boiler and uninsulated pipes sat in an uninsulated basement, a small amount of thermal resistance at the radiator posed a problem, but in a properly designed modern system I find it hard to believe it will ever be a real world problem....See More
TOCL&H
3 months agoTOCL&H
2 months agomike_home
2 months ago
sktn77a
2 months agoTOCL&H
2 months agomike_home
2 months ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDES10 Ways to Hide That Air Conditioner
Feeling boxed in designing around your mini-split air conditioner? Try one of these clever disguises and distractions
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESRadiator Covers Like You’ve Never Seen
From custom to DIY, these 10 ideas will help the radiator blend in, become a storage standout or both
Full Story
HEALTHY HOMEGet Cleaner Indoor Air Without Opening a Window
Mechanical ventilation can actually be better for your home than the natural kind. Find out the whys and hows here
Full Story
LIFE6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning
These methods can reduce temperatures in the home and save on energy bills
Full Story
LAUNDRY ROOMSHouzz Call: How Do You Air-Dry Your Clothes in Winter?
Baby, it’s cold outside! Do you have a trick to line-dry clothing indoors? Please tell us about it
Full Story
GREEN BUILDINGLife Without Air Conditioning? These Passively Cooled Homes Say Yes
Ever wish you could chuck that money-sucking air conditioner? Check out these homes that keep the air cool and flowing passively
Full Story
WINDOW TREATMENTSHow to Cover Windows Above a Radiator
Explore the window treatments — and window treatment combinations — that can work in this space
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESOriginal Home Details: What to Keep, What to Cast Off
Renovate an older home without regrets with this insight on the details worth preserving
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDES12 Ways to Cool Your Home Without Air Conditioning
If your summer energy bill is leaving you hot under the collar, consider these savvy alternate strategies for cooling down
Full Story
HOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: Casual Comfort in a London Victorian
Unfussy furniture and a simple palette give a renovated home for 6 an air of ease
Full Story
mike_home