How to Remove a Radiator

1. Cats know a lot

about plumbing, but
usually, they wont
divulge the secrets.
In fact, if they see
you mucking about
with pipes, they will
come and get in
front of you to
inspect your skillset
and sco! at you".
#hey are also very skilled
at all things technological
not to mention, the
sub$ect matter of any
report you may be trying to produce. %hen you are typing a document, they will
come and sit on your lap or, in the alternative, directly on your keyboard also to
inspect the product of your feeble labors.
&. #his is a Radiator
'alve
Figure 2 This is a Radiator Valve
Figure 1 The Foreman
(. #o remove, )rst you must
separate the valve body from the
*spud+ the piece that goes into
the radiator" by turning the big
nut with a pipe wrench. ,-# the
little nut at the top under the
handle."
.. #his is after they have
been separated.
/ou want to cap the valve,
in case steam should ever
come up through this pipe,
you dont want the
condensate soaking your
0oors, rugs and assorted
stu!. #he problem is that
the threaded portion of the
valve that you see is not
standard, so you wont be
able to get a cap that )ts
*close+ is not the same
thing as *)ts+." #he
standard part is the spud, which sadly is still in the radiator.
1. #his is a spud wrench used for that purpose. #his
grabs the spud from the inside. If you apply a pipe
wrench to the outside of the spud, you will probably
damage the mating surface and cause leaks.
2. #his shows the spud wrench
inserted into the spud and
being turned with a pipe
wrench.
3lternately, if you dont have nor cannot borrow a spud wrench, do not buy one. /ou
will probably never need one again. /ou can instead remove the whole valve body
from the pipe coming from the 0oor. #his pipe coming from the 0oor I4 standard and
you will be able to get a cap to cap that pipe. #hen you wont need the spud
wrench. 5e sure to use #%- pipe wrenches6 one to hold the pipe stationary and the
other to turn the valve. 7o not assume the pipe will $ust stay where you tell it to
stay. If you $ust turn the valve, the valve and pipe may remain a single unit and the
-#H8R end of the pipe will unscrew from the ne9t )tting further down in the bowels
of the earth or the basement : whichever comes )rst".
Remember to apply #e0on tape to the threads of the pipe or spud before applying
the cap so as to guarantee a good seal.
,ote6 %7;.< and =i>uid %rench are good solvents to help loosen )ttings that are
stuck from decades of rust and corrosion.
If removing the spud from the radiator, lay the radiator down 0at on the 0oor to
avoid it falling on you. 3lso, the radiator will probably have some water in it from
condensed steam from once;upon;a;time. 5e prepared to deal with it preferably
58?-R8 it is all over your 0oors" $ust in case.
@ood luck.