The Radiators Resource

A couple different varieties exist in the world of cast iron radiators. There are two basic ways to heat your radiator, hot water or steam, and many different varieties in style. Here’s an overview of what makes each distinct and unique.

Steam Radiators

Steam radiators were the first ever free standing radiators, and were developed by Joseph Nason in the 1860’s. This system had a single pipe that went from the elaborately designed radiator to a boiler elsewhere in the home. The boiler would heat up water into steam, which would flow through the pipe and into the radiator. The heat would get transferred to the radiator, meaning that the steam would cool down, turn back into water, and drain through the pipe back to the boiler. If your radiator at home has a single pipeline, it’s a steam radiator.

Hot Water Radiators

Hot water radiators use two pipes. One takes water from the boiler and into the radiator, and the other returns the cooled water back to the boiler. The great thing about these two pipe setups is that they could potentially be used with steam boilers as well as hot water boilers, making them desirable and versatile. Hot water radiators weren’t seen until the twentieth century, but have been around ever since. It’s important to make sure that you bleed this kind of radiator on a yearly basis to ensure that trapped air isn’t impeding the flow of water.

Vintage Cast Iron Radiators

Older cast iron radiators weren’t just created for the practical purpose of heating a home. They were also used as ornate metal decorations. The idea was that if you needed a large clunky piece of iron in a room, there was no reason for it to look bad, too. Vintage radiators and vintage clones can still be found for sale today. Some styles you may run into include Italianate and Victorian. The first generally includes rounded fins and curved feet, where as the second generally has raised ornate patterns. For pure asthetics, the Victorian radiators have generally been held in higher esteem, and have often been used for purely decorative purposes.

Modern Cast Iron Radiators

Believe it or not companies are still making cast iron radiators even today. The modern style is a minimalist one, with sleek curved coils and columns. Modern radiators are not necessarily better than their vintage counterparts for heating your home, but they are more likely to have had higher standards of quality when they were produced.

If you’re anything like me, you’re a do it yourself kind of person. It’s always more fun and exciting to be able to fix things yourself than to have to call in the pros. But is this a good attitude to have when dealing with cast iron radiators? What kind of maintenance should you be attempting, and what should you be calling in the plumber for?

Bleeding the Radiator

This may sound like bad medicine, but it actually is a good term when applied to radiators. Bleeding the radiator is something you should try if you find that the radiator is colder than it should be, or that the room isn’t heating properly. What’s going on here is that air is getting caught in the coils and impeding the flow of water that your radiators depend on for even heating. Bleeding the radiator is as simple as opening the valve towards the top of the radiator. Wait until the hissing sound stops before closing the vent again. In addition, you may want to have some kind of washcloth on hand - often times some water will get shot out of the valve when you open it.

A Leaky Radiator

If your radiator is leaking, odds are that you can fix it yourself and save yourself a hefty plumbers fee. It’s a little involved, though, so make sure you’re in it for the long haul. First you’ll need to drain the radiator of any water or steam that’s inside. Next strip the surface of all the paint, primer, and dust which have settled there. Remove any grease or oil on the surface by using a non-petroleum cleaner. You’re then going to need to apply a special product used for sealing. J-B Weld has been noted as being good for this. Use a 50-50 proportioned solution and spread it over the entire radiator, making sure that your layer isn’t too think in any one place. About 1/32 inch thick should do the trick nicely. Make sure you’re really careful with the solution - it can do a lot of damage if it gets in your eyes or onto your skin, so wear gloves and goggles. Then all you’ll need to do is let it dry. About 15-20 hours generally does the trick. While the process is involved and lengthy, it’ll save you a couple of bucks in the long run.

Problems With the Circulator

The circulator is what pumps the hot water to all the radiators in your house. I wouldn’t touch the thing with a ten foot pole, personally. If you’re having trouble with your circulator, call in the pros and let them get to work. This is one thing you don’t want to touch without some kind of expertise.