Removing a Radiator

JimMorrissey · Jan 3, 2006

Gents......Happy New Year.

Hoping somebody can help. I've got a couple of old cast iron radiators in my kitchen that I want to move so I can replace the old floors. Not sure how to go about removing a raditor while the boiler is live and active. Any help would be appreciated.

scott_vt · Jan 3, 2006

Mornin Jim,
Im no plumber /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But the only way to remove any radiator while the system is on, would be to turn off the zone your planning on working on. At least thats the way I see it. Good Luck Jim.

scotty

Jagmandave · Jan 3, 2006

Have to agree with scott, as long as there's a way to isolate those from the rest of the system, otherwise you'll have to shut the system down and drain it. If you do have to do that, it might be a good time for some shut off valves in strategic places.......

Good luck Jim, and remember if you or any of your IM force are caught, the secratary will disavow all knowledge of you!

midlf · Jan 3, 2006

Have you determined the weight of these things. Some of them get heavy, as in two men and a boy to move.

Deerlope · Jan 3, 2006

If there is any up or down movement you might be able to suspend them from the ceiling. Using light chain or very heavy wire.

kenmac · Jan 3, 2006

Just be careful as some of these valves may be old & may not close all the way off & you may have some steam bypass because of this. yes they are heavy !

JimMorrissey · Jan 4, 2006

There not too bad. Not huge. I guess I'm wondering if I turn off the valve to the zone and drain the radiator and associated piping, will the air in the system affect the boiler. I'll ask on a plumbing site I know.

kenmac · Jan 4, 2006

No, it won't hurt the boiler to turn the valve off to that radiator. Is it a steam boiler or a hot water boiler ? If steam there will be nothing to drain.

Deerlope · Jan 4, 2006

What about the condensed steam?

George2615 · Jan 4, 2006

Hi Jim,
If your system is steam and the radiator has a valve you can just shut it off then unhook and move. I moved some with a 2 wheel handcart with a 2x4 on the cart to hold up the radiator. If its a hot water syatem like the others said you'd have to shut down a zone valve and then drain it to move. If no zone valve then the whole system must be shut down, remove radiator and cap pipe stubs coming through floor then restart boiler until your flooring project is done. Then shut down again, uncap stubs and reconnect radiator. If it's a water filled system it should have a automatic pressure regulator valve which would refill the system once it detected a loss in pressure.