steam radiator repair

[williams81405]

I have steam radiators in my house and I need to remove one for repair. Since it's springtime now, the heat hasn't come on in weeks. Do I need to turn off my water before I cut the pipe to this radiator?

[DIY Guy]

I'm on the west coast and steam radiators are a rarity around here. I really don't have any specific knowledge. I will tell you what I suspect though, for what that may be worth.

You have a boiler which heats the water into steam and it circulates throughout the system and then condenses back into water. What I don't know for sure is whether they really circulate steam or if water is really circulated at near boiling temperatures. However, in either event, there is probably water in the system and so before you cut any pipe, I would think it wise to drain the system.

Secondly the system is probably not a closed system, so a water supply is connected somewhere to the system. Therefore, I would also suspect you must shut off the water first.

I'd love to hear some input from someone is familiar with this type of system.