Hello,

I own a house that contains a rented apartment on the upper floor. The
entire house was centrally heated via an oil furnace and hot water
radiators.



A few years ago we had a contractor install electric baseboard heating
upstairs so the tenant could control and pay for their own heating. As a
result the old radiators were removed and the water pipes leading up to the
radiators were cut just above the floor level and capped since they were not
required anymore in the upstairs lodging.



It was recently pointed out that the hardwood floor is discoloring (as if
rotting) in the area around the capped pipes where the old radiators were.
I have not noticed any condensation around the capped pipe and no leak is
evident. This is evident in more than one room so it seems related to the
capped water pipe. What could be causing this? Could it be condensation
from the pipe, although it isn't evident when I inspect it.

Any suggestions welcome.

Basil

There should be no water in these pipes if the heating is disconnected, or
is it the case that you are still using hot water for the downstairs (in
which case there could be water pressure in the upstairs pipes). The right
thing to have done would be to disconnect those pipes entirely at their
source. Having a pipe like that buried in the wall, under pressure, and
gradually rusting away, is a prescription for trouble.

I don't think condensation could be an issue since the water in the pipes is
either warm or at ambient temperature, but there could be leaks. You say
you don't find any leakage, but it sounds like there is some. The black
color you are probably observing is due to a chemical reaction between
rusting iron and the (probably) oak flooring.

"Bill Athanasopoulos" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I own a house that contains a rented apartment on the upper floor. The
entire house was centrally heated via an oil furnace and hot water
radiators.



A few years ago we had a contractor install electric baseboard heating
upstairs so the tenant could control and pay for their own heating. As a
result the old radiators were removed and the water pipes leading up to
the
radiators were cut just above the floor level and capped since they were
not
required anymore in the upstairs lodging.



It was recently pointed out that the hardwood floor is discoloring (as if
rotting) in the area around the capped pipes where the old radiators were.
I have not noticed any condensation around the capped pipe and no leak is
evident. This is evident in more than one room so it seems related to the
capped water pipe. What could be causing this? Could it be condensation
from the pipe, although it isn't evident when I inspect it.

Any suggestions welcome.

Basil

A moisture test will tell if you if the wood is wet.

M Hamlin

"donald girod" wrote in message
...
There should be no water in these pipes if the heating is disconnected, or
is it the case that you are still using hot water for the downstairs (in
which case there could be water pressure in the upstairs pipes). The
right
thing to have done would be to disconnect those pipes entirely at their
source. Having a pipe like that buried in the wall, under pressure, and
gradually rusting away, is a prescription for trouble.

I don't think condensation could be an issue since the water in the pipes
is
either warm or at ambient temperature, but there could be leaks. You say
you don't find any leakage, but it sounds like there is some. The black
color you are probably observing is due to a chemical reaction between
rusting iron and the (probably) oak flooring.

"Bill Athanasopoulos" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I own a house that contains a rented apartment on the upper floor. The
entire house was centrally heated via an oil furnace and hot water
radiators.



A few years ago we had a contractor install electric baseboard heating
upstairs so the tenant could control and pay for their own heating. As
a
result the old radiators were removed and the water pipes leading up to
the
radiators were cut just above the floor level and capped since they were
not
required anymore in the upstairs lodging.



It was recently pointed out that the hardwood floor is discoloring (as
if
rotting) in the area around the capped pipes where the old radiators
were.
I have not noticed any condensation around the capped pipe and no leak
is
evident. This is evident in more than one room so it seems related to
the
capped water pipe. What could be causing this? Could it be
condensation
from the pipe, although it isn't evident when I inspect it.

Any suggestions welcome.

Basil