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How to Replace a Steam Radiator | Ask This Old House

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Plumbing and insulation
By Daniel Miller
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Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a small radiator with one that’s the correct size.
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Time: 4 hours

Cost: $100 and up

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List for Replacing a Steam Radiator:
2 pipe wrenches
Pipe (for persuasion)
Spud wrench

Shopping List:
Replacement radiator
Hand valve
Spud
Pipe dope
Single strand wicking

Steps:
1. Switch off the steam boiler to prevent risk of scalding.
2. Loosen the nut holding the radiator. Make sure the wrench is biting the nut in three different corners to prevent the nut from deforming.
3. Carefully remove the old radiator.
4. (Optional): To replace the hand valve, use one wrench to bite the pipe and one wrench to bite the valve. Move in opposite directions to loosen. This step may require a pipe for persuasion.
5. (Optional): To replace the spud, insert the spud wrench to loosen, then remove.
6. Make all the necessary connections with the wrench: floor to hand valve, hand valve to spud. Apply the pipe dope and the wicking to each thread to ensure a secure connection. The hand valve should be parallel to the floor in order to fit back into the radiator.
7. Carefully fit the new radiator into place and connect it with pipe dope and the wrench.
8. Open the hand valve and turn the boiler back on.

Resources:
Richard used an existing radiator leftover in the homeowner’s house, but a replacement radiator could be bought at plumbing supply stores or salvage yards.

The other tools for this project, including the hand valve, pipe wrenches, and a spud wrench can be purchased from a plumbing supply store.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Replace a Steam Radiator | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

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Comment (0)

  1. You can buy 5 dollar yoga mats online to protect the floor. Channellock now makes a speed grip plier that locks and you dont have to readjust every time

  6. Always cut the valve out! NEVER TRY TO REMOVE IT ! you'll create yourself a huge nightmare if you break the pipe below the floor!
    Check on YouTube how to remove a radiator valve for procedure.
    Lookup Bobsplumbingvideos .

  7. I would of capped off that electrical outlet with a metal plate. Leaving the plastic plate and outlet there behind the radiator where it can get hot and could help cause a fire. This can happen if it gets too hot and the insulation on the wires melts and the two wires end up touching it can then cause sparks and a fire.

  9. VIEWER BEWARE!!
    now that I look at it again and again and again, there is no mention of bleeding the system whatsoever. And maybe I missed a 2-second mention but bleeding the system is THE ONE MOST IMPORTANT STEP. I see this Tim and time again with This Old House. They spend more time talking about the family and filling up the video with exciting animations. No mention of the important stuff.

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