Can I shorten existing radiator?
 

We are redoing our Kitchen and I would like to move the fridge to a
different location.
This would put the fridge in front of a forced hot water floor radiator.
It seems like it would not be a good idea to be pumping hot air into the
bottom back of the fridge.
From memory I'd guess the radiator is 1/2" or 3/4" copper with metal fins on
it to disperse heat. There is a 5" - 6" tall metal plate that covers the
length of fins.
Can these radiators be shortened by cutting the pipe, remove some fins near
the end, and sweat a new copper elbow on, Then adjust and reconnect the
plumbing under the floor.

Or would I have to buy and install a new section that was made to the new
shorter length?

TIA

Steve

Can I shorten existing radiator?
 

Lots of options exist for you. If you remove some of the heat
exchanger, you won't get as efficient a heat transfer into the room.
If you need the heat, you can replace the heat exchanger with a
different type, perhaps one that is taller and less wide. Granger has
a catalog that you can peruse.

Alternatively, you can simply cut off the aluminum fins where you
don't want the heat. The copper that's left won't radiate very much,
but if that bothers you, go to Home Depot and get that foam pipe
insulation and stick it around the copper.

Alternatiively, you can cut the pipe and remove some of the finned
section. If the heat exchanger is made by Slant/Fin, the pipe is a
non-standard size. I can't remember if it's bigger or smaller, but
you may have to get or make a special fitting to do the reduction. I
remember doing this once and made a fitting out of a copper block,
using a milling machine. Wasn't too hard to do. But you need the
copper stock and mill.Maybe a drill press would work.

Rock



On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:34:54 -0500, "comcastss news groups"
wrote:

We are redoing our Kitchen and I would like to move the fridge to a
different location.
This would put the fridge in front of a forced hot water floor radiator.
It seems like it would not be a good idea to be pumping hot air into the
bottom back of the fridge.
From memory I'd guess the radiator is 1/2" or 3/4" copper with metal fins on
it to disperse heat. There is a 5" - 6" tall metal plate that covers the
length of fins.
Can these radiators be shortened by cutting the pipe, remove some fins near
the end, and sweat a new copper elbow on, Then adjust and reconnect the
plumbing under the floor.

Or would I have to buy and install a new section that was made to the new
shorter length?

TIA

Steve

Can I shorten existing radiator?
 

On Feb 28, 11:34 am, "comcastss news groups"
wrote:
We are redoing our Kitchen and I would like to move the fridge to a
different location.
This would put the fridge in front of a forced hot water floor radiator.
It seems like it would not be a good idea to be pumping hot air into the
bottom back of the fridge.
From memory I'd guess the radiator is 1/2" or 3/4" copper with metal fins on
it to disperse heat. There is a 5" - 6" tall metal plate that covers the
length of fins.
Can these radiators be shortened by cutting the pipe, remove some fins near
the end, and sweat a new copper elbow on, Then adjust and reconnect the
plumbing under the floor.

Or would I have to buy and install a new section that was made to the new
shorter length?

TIA

Steve

Steve,

The answer to your question is YES. The size of the pipe is a
STANDARD 3/4" and can be cut and plumbed with STANDARD 3/4" copper
pipe.

-paul

Can I shorten existing radiator?
 

"comcastss news groups" wrote in message
et...
We are redoing our Kitchen and I would like to move the fridge to a
different location.
This would put the fridge in front of a forced hot water floor radiator.
It seems like it would not be a good idea to be pumping hot air into the
bottom back of the fridge.
From memory I'd guess the radiator is 1/2" or 3/4" copper with metal fins
on
it to disperse heat. There is a 5" - 6" tall metal plate that covers the
length of fins.
Can these radiators be shortened by cutting the pipe, remove some fins
near
the end, and sweat a new copper elbow on, Then adjust and reconnect the
plumbing under the floor.

Sure, but that is a lot of work. In my house, I keep the damper on that
section closed since the kitchen gets plenty of heat from cooking as well as
what come sin from the other rooms. You can also block the bottom section
with someinsulation, you can wrap the fins in some heat resistant material,
etc. If you want to removed the housing you can buy a shorter one and
either buy a shorter length of tubing or removed the fins and re-solder.