How to Reconnect a Radiator | Ask This Old House

Рет қаралды 129,522

4 жыл бұрын

A homeowner’s radiator sprung away from the pipe when he tried to replace the valve, so Ask This Old House plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey heads to his house to help him reconnect it
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Time: 1-2 hours
Cost: $50
Skill Level: Difficult
Tools List for Reconnecting a Radiator:
Spud wrench [amzn.to/35yvZhX]
Pipe wrenches [amzn.to/31f9tY0]
Ratchet straps [amzn.to/2ORaXVQ]
Shims [amzn.to/2OQlMrd]
Shopping List:
Hose [amzn.to/2BeSWbV]
Radiator valve [amzn.to/35HkTHx]
Pipe dope [amzn.to/2MNaZLy]
Single strand wicking [amzn.to/2IQ6ONN]
2x4’s or other scrap wood [amzn.to/32kEniO]
Steps:
1. Start by shutting off the boiler and the cold water feed to the boiler.
2. Drain the system using a hose and vent each radiator in the house.
3. Remove the temporary caps using the pipe wrenches. When using the wrench, be sure that it touches the pipe in three places so it does not damage the pipe.
4. Disconnect the spud from the radiator valve.
5. Apply the pipe dope to the threads of the spud and seal it with the single strand wicking.
6. Using the spud wrench, carefully tighten the spud in position. Be sure the threads correctly catch to prevent damage to the spud.
7. Apply the pipe dope and wicking to the pipe coming up through the floor.
8. Thread the other half of the radiator valve onto the pipe, again being cautious of cross threading.
9. Tighten the radiator valve using the pipe wrenches. Once the valve is in the direction of the radiator, it can be reconnected.
10. Wrap the ratchet straps around the legs of the radiator and put a 2x4 or another piece of scrap wood into the strap. Using the 2x4 as a lever, carefully pull the radiator into position with the valve. It might help to wedge shims on the other side of the radiator to hold it in place. You can use multiple levers if you need to adjust the height as well.
11. Once the radiator has been moved so it’s perfectly aligned with the valve, connect the valve to the spud using the nut that connects the two.
12. Once the connection has been made, tighten it with a wrench.
13. With all the work done, turn the cold water feed and the boiler back on and vent all the radiators again.
Resources:
All the tools Richard used to reconnect the radiator, including wrenches, pipe dope, wicking, and the radiator valve, can all be found at home centers and plumbing supply houses.
About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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Watch the full episode:
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How to Reconnect a Radiator
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Пікірлер: 129

@bubka 4 жыл бұрын

The radiator episodes are the best.

@flyingozzy 4 жыл бұрын

Guy: Hi Richard, I tried wedges and straps, but it doesn't work, I need help. Richard: Let me show you the trick. What you actually need is a wedge and straps.

@jerseydevil3799 2 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂.

@damonunderwood813 4 жыл бұрын

I've been an industrial plumber for 11yrs now (2009 - ) and there's no greater feeling than finally connect a union fitting after a long day of laying pipe.

@thatguy4234 4 жыл бұрын

Damon Underwood ahhh know the feel

@xxDOTH3DEWxx Жыл бұрын

Nothing beats a long day of laying pipe

@michaelbaumgardner2530 4 жыл бұрын

Fixing an old radiator is art that few know....good job Richard.!!!

@baritone777 2 жыл бұрын

That was VERY satisfying to watch a wedge and two levers get that thing in alignment with the valve!

@jesusquiroz1 4 жыл бұрын

I don’t even know why I’m here... I don’t have a radiator.

@Danny13243 4 жыл бұрын

same

@venividivici4253 4 жыл бұрын

@@Danny13243 /

@richiebee1984 4 жыл бұрын

DICKBUTT??

@BigDHomeVideo 4 жыл бұрын

Same, KZfaq recommended section has been throwing me some real curve balls lately. I did learn from this video that radiator systems are a lot more complicated than I originally imagined lol.

@pepsicolachao4537 4 жыл бұрын

Haha! Now if I go to the house that has a radiator hard to connect, we will know what to do!

@jerseydevil3799 2 жыл бұрын

I can’t even imagine the amount of stress that the two pipes are getting

@Freddyfrm18 3 ай бұрын

Maaannn he had to do it with his left hand. Thanks for helping the plumber out.

@alec4672 3 жыл бұрын

This feels like an episode from 2003. Usually the homeowner just sits and watches in recent seasons.

@sleepygrumpy 11 ай бұрын

Just excellent teaching from a guy who's seen it all -- great video

@MinecraftLetstime 4 жыл бұрын

I really liked this episode!

@leandrocruz9513 4 ай бұрын

God bless you RICHARD YOUR WORK IS AWESOME I NEED SOME HELP RADIATOR IS LEAKING IN MANHATTAN

@citrus1973 3 жыл бұрын

Sometimes two heads and two sets of hands is all you need. Thanks for the info.

@neilh6178 3 жыл бұрын

Hemp and candle wick work similar for thread sealant. They expand and seal if they get wet. Originally here it looks like it went into a 90 with a LR nipple. Always difficult adding the Dahl valve.

@heroknaderi 3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate it

@matthewmillard9775 2 жыл бұрын

Ive seen some people bleeding the radiators through a screw on the top of the radiator with a radiator key..it was explained that this method is to get air out of the radiator. Is this method needed with steam heat radiators that have side vents? Ty.. Matthew

@tedcarl5382 4 жыл бұрын

Sheithowdy, learned something new on the thread filler.

@johnroberts9560 4 жыл бұрын

Hi TOH , I like too watch Rich Tretheway show us new products in plumbing & how to fix & repair things involved with plumbing ! 👍😃🚿🚽🛀

@nnamerz 2 жыл бұрын

How is that strap attached to that 2x4? It was difficult to tell from the angle they filmed.

@bigvegass 4 жыл бұрын

Slick

@unclefreddieDied 3 жыл бұрын

DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOR EVER?!?!?!

@robstephens 4 жыл бұрын

Should have cut about 1/2 in. extra threads on existing pipe or replaced it with one about 1/2 in. shorter. It would then go together without all of the lifting and prying, and there would be less stress on the pipe and radiator.

@joeyporto2461 8 ай бұрын

Whatever happened to radiator heaters?

@jameskappel 4 жыл бұрын

Does the system ever need to be flushed (something like a vehicle radiator) because of hard water build-up or contaminants? Does an additive get added to prevent rust/corrosion, etc...? Thank you.

@TheDoctor1492 4 жыл бұрын

Periodic flushing can help get better performance, yes.

@jameskappel 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheDoctor1492 thank you

@TheRabbitHaze 4 жыл бұрын

In my country, if we have a closed system for radiators, we often add a little bit of anti-freeze, or propylene glycol just for its corrosion protection. Beware that car anti-freeze and heating system anti-freeze is not the same thing.

@markzamiechowski5352 4 жыл бұрын

If anyone didn't have wicking just use horse hair and grease we do this in Poland and it works all the time because Teflon tape is just not economical to use

@buckhorncortez 4 жыл бұрын

Sure...I'll just run right out and shave my horse...

@markzamiechowski5352 4 жыл бұрын

@@buckhorncortez hair from your better half works just as well but here you can buy locks of hair in a small package for only 5usd and that would last for about 390 1,5 inch npt pipe threads

@yaosio 4 жыл бұрын

I use my hair.

@darwinawardcommittee 4 жыл бұрын

mark zamiechowski Teflon tape is less than a dollar for a roll here .

@markzamiechowski5352 4 жыл бұрын

@@darwinawardcommittee here it's usually arround 2.50 USD per 50 foot rolls of 3/4

@BrewersArcade 4 жыл бұрын

Very informative. I would totally screw this up

@unclefreddieDied 3 жыл бұрын

now you know... and knowing is half the battle G.I.JOE!!!

@jameskappel 4 жыл бұрын

Is single strand plumbing wicking the same stuff used for candle making?

@mlindholm 4 жыл бұрын

Seems unlikely, a candle wick is a lot thicker, braided cord.

@rachel705 3 жыл бұрын

some of the stuff you can buy is the same, its just braided together for candles. depends on the candlewick you buy or the plumbing wick you buy.

@donr3407 3 жыл бұрын

I have come into this problem before after people have used this exact fix. After Time you're building will settle and fittings will fail. It's sad to say that this is the only video with the master plumber that I don't approve of. There were a few different tactics in which you could have tried before forcibly pulling the two connections together. Easiest workaround would probably been sawzall and moving plumbing over an inch or two after cutting out a considerable amount of notches underneath your floor. Other than that you could have had a flexible line that would have been able to make the bend necessary so threads line up to meet joints. Flexible lines are now in use and should be utilized in situations of retrofitting. I hope this helps.

@johnjackson7067 3 жыл бұрын

How does a radiator plumbed like that ever get much hot water circulating through it? Wouldn't most of the water circulation be through just the very bottom area of the radiator, since the inflow and outflow are both down at the bottom? Was this radiator plumbed like this originally, or was it previously a steam system? Compared to steam, hot water carries so much less heat. Seems like a downgrade in performance to change a steam system over to hot water.

@VampireOnline 4 жыл бұрын

I'm so happy to not live an area where radiators were the norm.

@hijodelaisla275 3 жыл бұрын

They're the cleanest, most efficient heat - if you need heat, that is.

@unclefreddieDied 3 жыл бұрын

VampireOnline are there any houses for sale near you? I'm getting tired of looking at this snow!!!

@VampireOnline 3 жыл бұрын

@@unclefreddieDied we just had the coldest temps in North America and the heaviest snow in 20 years. So you wouldn’t escape it in Nebraska lol. Just no radiators lol.

@Shazzkid 4 жыл бұрын

Roasty Toasty

@GrahamDIY 4 жыл бұрын

Do you guys in the states not use TRVs on your radiator??

@davidschenburn3238 3 жыл бұрын

Many people here have TRVs installed, but in older homes, probably not as much. There are complaints in their stead.

@871mike 4 жыл бұрын

δεν υπαρχουν προσθηκες στην αμερικη?

@davidschenburn3238 3 жыл бұрын

I wonder if they could've put shims under the valve side legs of the radiator. Hmmmmm....guess I'll never know.

@SerenoOunce Жыл бұрын

If he only needed a 1" valve probably could have taken up the space by using multiple reducer bushings on the rad. But seeing his floor pipe was already 1-1/4", just gotta muscle it and pray.

@johnenright4969 3 жыл бұрын

Dude wicking? I didn't know they still made that stuff haven't used it in 20 years!

@unclefreddieDied 3 жыл бұрын

totally

@jamescallahan8669 4 жыл бұрын

If those two legs on the rad aren’t back on the floor there would still be stress on the connection fittings. Maybe they left a wedge under the legs?

@unclebuild8480 4 жыл бұрын

Nah, the slack and gravity will settle everything.

@theodoretepaske8755 3 жыл бұрын

I live in a house that’s heated this way. Hopefully I never have to replace any valves.

@jazzcornertv 8 ай бұрын

Lol. If you sell it fast you will be ok.

@mosfetking4709 3 жыл бұрын

He learn everything from his time in roto rooter ....

@JohnODonovan1 4 жыл бұрын

Do you mean to bleed each radiator that I would be removing or bleed each radiator in the entire house? Then when the radiator is reinstalled, do I then close each bleeding valve or was I supposed to have done that immediately after bleeding and before removing the radiator. What sequence should I be leading the radiators in, is it the first one closest to the boiler or the one on the top floor. And what is the procedure for closing the bleeders when I am done reinstalling and what happens next, do I turn on the water feed to the boiler before turning on the electric before closing the bleeder on the radiator/s? I do vaguely remember doing this years ago and the heat was never the same. I know that you're restricted by time in making these videos but from my experience, one false move out of sequence can turn a simple job into divorce procedures😁 The reason for a lot of my confusion too was that another reputable video starts off by talking in-depth about how to bleed starting at the ground floor with the radiator farthest from the boiler. That in itself can be misinterpreted if there are just two radiators the same distance from the boiler at opposite ends of the floor. In my mind, the "farthest" one is the radiator way up on the top floor. Now if it is the farthest one on that ground floor, how do I determine which radiator is farthest if one is at one end of the room and the other at the opposing end but each at the same distance from the boiler. Is farthest the correct word? Sorry for sounding whatever way but dyslexics have to know exactly without any hint of a doubt what's what. Thanks, John

@flynnbrabyn5384 4 жыл бұрын

@jameskappel 4 жыл бұрын

Can you use teflon tape and thread sealant/pipe dope together?

@flat-earther Жыл бұрын

You can apply pipe dope over teflon tape

@lewiskelly14 4 жыл бұрын

So surely the pressure and weight of the radiator is now pressing down on the pipe that was too high?

@mikepilcher1922 4 жыл бұрын

Don’t quit your day job

@thatguy4234 4 жыл бұрын

Mike Pilcher 😅

@FriggOff361 3 жыл бұрын

Chad feels cold

@nberedim 4 жыл бұрын

Don't you have hemp in the US ?

@Maniac8275 4 жыл бұрын

nberedim I want to know more... What would you do with the hemp?

@nberedim 4 жыл бұрын

@@Maniac8275 You seal the joint LOL

@saulgoodman2018 4 жыл бұрын

He should check to see if the valve is open before he left.

@jeffreyjohn2037 4 жыл бұрын

Should have put some dope on the union taper and threads. And snug the packing nut after opening the valve all the way

@scotttovey 4 жыл бұрын

If there's water in the radiator, the valve is open.

@jeffreyjohn2037 4 жыл бұрын

@@scotttovey the radiator will fill from the return pipe and vent with the supply valve closed.

@scotttovey 4 жыл бұрын

@@jeffreyjohn2037 It shouldn't, But then, that really depends on how the system is designed.

@man4evil 4 жыл бұрын

@@scotttovey I seen this on my system, fills pretty well via return line.

@AirARTBBQ 4 жыл бұрын

If u have a 100 yr old house good luck.

@chrishamilton8003 4 жыл бұрын

Rich I have ? Is galvanized pipe legal on Natural gas.

@jacobmonty-mcphail1553 4 жыл бұрын

No. Blk steel, copper, CSst or plastic

@MegaNayaaz 4 жыл бұрын

I don't have a radiator nor do I know anything about it but it looks like Richard is putting a lot of pressure/tension on the pipe by supporting the radiator.. In the long run the pipe will give up

@stevenm4117 4 жыл бұрын

The pipe has been in the house for 60 years. It will withstand a whole lot longer.

@JoseMendoza-hv9fe 2 жыл бұрын

That foo said yahtzee?

@hijodelaisla275 3 жыл бұрын

"actually"

@miguelzepeda20 4 жыл бұрын

Stress on HOT water pipes .. Not gonna be pretty when they crack ..

@vmarc4682 4 жыл бұрын

That's why he had a leak in the first place. He could have used an extension coupling on the spud to fill the gap, and put shims under the legs to align the height. Richard does shoddy work sometimes.

@ozziesheppard17 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, Accept those are steel pipes and that house has had that same set up for probably 80 years w/o an issue.

@GrahamDIY 4 жыл бұрын

Ozzie Sheppard you mean “except”, not accept

@ozziesheppard17 4 жыл бұрын

@@GrahamDIYYou mean Siri, not Ozzie* haha.

@JoseHernandez-tc1kl 4 жыл бұрын

Why is it that these old house still uses radiators ? Is it because it to expensive to change the heating system to another type.

@ClicketyClack 4 жыл бұрын

Because they work. No need to fix what ain't broke.

@Marcel_Germann 4 жыл бұрын

In most european countries radiators are the standard heating. But the design changed very much. The old ones used radiant heat, the new ones use convection. Every radiator is having it's own thermostatic valve, so you can have different temperatures in different rooms. The cost of such a valve is between 10 and 30 Euros (converted it's between 11 and 33 US$), depending on if it's a simple one or a comfortable programable electronic one...or with a smart home connection, adjustable with your smartphone and such things.. simple one: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Vanne_thermostatique_thermador_10.jpg Digital one: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Honeywell_Rondostat_HR20_resized.jpg

@yaosio 4 жыл бұрын

After this is something like baseboard heating, but they need to repipe for that and have space. After that is forced air, which supports heat and cold, but you need space for ducting or space for airhandlers if it's ductless. The boiler is replaced with a furnace.

@unclebuild8480 4 жыл бұрын

Yes, it can be expensive to change. Hot water radiator heat is quiet and steady.

@chadhydro4876 4 жыл бұрын

It’s also a really nice form of heat. Steady and consistent and they keep heating after the heat is turned off

@fiercenet 2 жыл бұрын

We don't want to put any stress on that old pipe, so lets use it as an anchor point for this board and manhandle this radiator into place!

@ConflictedSwitch 4 жыл бұрын

I'm surprised he didn't swap the radiator out for a heat pump. 8)

@unclefreddieDied 3 жыл бұрын

LoL

@Blobjonblob 4 жыл бұрын

LIttle bit of fritz momma.

@thomaslynn8441 2 жыл бұрын

Steve and miss molly

@JohnODonovan1 4 жыл бұрын

VIEWER BEWARE!! Now that I look at it again and again and again, there's a slight mention of bleeding the radiator. He mentions very briefly if you catch it halfway in and again at the very end. He should be saying " it's very important to bleed EVERY SINGLE RADIATOR IN THE HOUSE. What is said could easily be interpreted by a homeowner who is not used to doing this as (it's important to bleed the radiator in the system) Bleeding the system is THE ONE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!!!!! I see this time and time again with This Old House. They spend more time talking about the family and how lovely the house is and filling up the video with exciting animations. No mention of the important stuff. All I can say against anyone who's going to argue with me is that at least 25% of this video should have been dedicated to the bleeding and just as important, the sequence of bleeding. But that 'makes for bad TV I suppose which is more important than helping people to fix problems. Their advice will lead to you wasting a weekend and then having to find and schedule a plumber and of course the cost which comes with that. Whatever you do do not take their advice on installing any electrical or flammable fuel devices. And if you do I would double and triple check what they are telling you. This is a disgrace TOH

@frankcostello7904 4 жыл бұрын

@albowrx 4 жыл бұрын

You get a pube. Great job there!

@user-xq9hm5pd4t Жыл бұрын

а если все стены дома заложить жидкими обоями с функцией подогрева и пол .все батареи не надо или надо ??? прикиньпульт подьехал тачкой включил стены пол и все а есть ультра лампы еще которые будут обогревать и нести освещение .. сынок ты не хочешь выкинуть дровянной котел и поставить ультрапечку с фч полями ....и крыщу от китайского автопрома с разьездными стеклами сеточкой шторой и тонированием ..ну и живи дальше у бабушки с дедами дибилами ....можна было автодом купить с любым местом для парковки и квартиру снимать по всему миру .а щас ты НА ЦЕПи как собачка у папы бабушки и новой жизни семейнного штампа ГНЕЗДО В ДЕРЕВНЕ С ЖИВНОСТЬЮ музами ..а мог купить робота собачку робота кошечку робота ребенка в подгузнику робота женского пола робота КУМ киберуниверсальнаямашина.