Radiator removal

[Johnny_Namakan]

Long time listener, first time caller. To the Home Improvement section, that is. I'm installing new hardwood floors in my living and dinning room. I live in Virginia MN and our city still uses Steam heat. So I have these huge cast iron radiators in almost every room. I need to remove them to get the old carpet out and put the new floors in. It should be easy to do that, heaviness aside. My question is, is there anything I should be concerned with or anything I need to do to the radiator before removing? I've heard that I will have to bleed the air out of it after reinstalling it, which I have never done before, but I am pretty handy and should be able to figure it out. Any tips out there? Thanks in advance!

[lip_ripper]

Hey Nam

Make sure your radiator valve(top side) shuts off completely otherwise you'll get steam coming through and some serious burns. If it doesn't you might have to shut the whole system down, if no valves are available.

On the condensate side you should be ok if all the traps are working o.k. otherwise you may have to remove the steam trap and screw a plug/cap on it.

There is a union on each radiator valve and steam trap to disconnect each side of radiator.

At start up there is no need to remove air (hot water system only) just open the valves slowly and let them warm up. Otherwise you'll get steam hammer (condensate flashing back to steam) that's the pinging and clunking noises you'll sometimes hear.

Good luck and take it easy on the back (them suckas are heavy)!

[Ski from FF]

Just a thought here. How thick is the floor your putting in? When you add in the thickness of the new floor will all the pipes fit back together? I just removed some radiators and they were piped to fit the floors as is.

SKI

[Johnny_Namakan]

Thanks lip ripper. That doesn't sound too bad. I get a lot of steam hammer right now. I didn't know what that was called. My girlfriend just thinks my house is haunted.

I was thinking about sliding a hyraulic car jack under it and then wheeling the thing out of the room, but after looking at it today it looks like there isn't enough clearance. Looks like good old fashoined muscle for these brutes.

Ski,i was thinking the same thing. I was in the basement trying to see if there was any play in the pipes and I can't even get a view of them. The radiator is in a part of the house that is overhung and extended beyond the foundation and it's all boxed in and not giving me a view of underneath. I'm thinking of just removing the radiators to make the floor install easier, and then notching around the legs when I put the radiator back in place. I hope there is some sort of ring type of trim that I can cover the seem around the four legs and both spots were the pipes comes up through the floor.

So minus the weight of these things it sounds like there isn't much prep work involved. The weight issue is big enough!!! Thanks guys.

[TTfromBlaine]

maybe appliance moving straps might help??

[lip_ripper]

If available a pallett jack might help.

[Redlantern]

Not sure about steam systems but with hot water systems, the water turns inky black and makes a huge mess on everything it touches. As much as these things weigh, it's nearly impossible to keep them balanced so you don't spill any water on the floor. To make a short story long, cap or plug the inlet and outlet before moving them. This will help protect the new floor you install.

[Johnny_Namakan]

Lip ripper, great idea on the pallet jack. I can borrow one from work. They're heavy too, but easier to get into the house and move around than the radiators.

Lantern that was a great idea too! I was concerned about the water spilling out. I've been asking people at work if they flush themselves empty after eah steam cycle but nobody really knows. If I cap them beofre I move them it shouldn't be an issue either way. Thanks guys. I plan on moving them late this week or on this Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes.

[lip_ripper]

Hey am

One thing on capping them. I doubt if you'll be able to remove the spud ends in the radiators themselves. One they've been heated and cooled so many time they're almost impossible to remove. Just try sticking a rag in them to keep the sludge inside.

[Bobby Bass]

Think you would be better off trying to move them with a two wheel dolly then a pallet jack, have to worry about balancing them when moving. Also you will have to bring them back to installed them. Don't know how well a pallet jack is going to be with your new floors. Have you thought about installing/upgrading to baseboards heaters as long as you are removing the radiator?

[Johnny_Namakan]

BB, I thought about going to baseboards, but I wouldn't be able to have an external thermostat control. I would have to adjsut each baseboard individually and more on feel than on actual temperature readout. I would like to be able to just turn the heat to a certain temp. on the thermo and have the whole house be at that temp. I know, I'm lazy But to be honest I have been contemplating baseboards anyway!?!