As mentioned, we have been working on or towards this for the past several weeks both with the contractor and suppliers for the parts.

The first step had the contractors out to do a test of the radiator system. This was done several weeks back which involved an air test to see if the radiators held the pressure. Better to discover an air leak than a water leak, right? The process took hours due to the number of radiators (22) and the amount of pipes that needed to be filled. But the pressure held.

Next we move to step 2, the scary one. It was time to test the system with water. This took again, hours to fill up the system and then they had to max out the pressure to way more than should ever flow through a normal radiator system to see how it held. To our glorious surprise, only a few minor leaks and they were at the valves, not the radiators themselves! The beautiful old paint worn, peeling units HELD!

It was game on.

A new tank-less hot water heater was ordered (yes, although it was fun getting the old hot water tank out of the cellar, we’re not sure everyone would enjoy that task, therefore we decided to go tank-less this time around. 😉

We also ordered the new boiler system. Some of the parts the contractors ordered and some we did. The system can be controlled with a thermostat but the system was meant to be controlled at the unit itself by way of a valve you turn. The valve would allow you to open or close the stream flow, ergo allowing more or less heated water into the unit, making the room’s temperature warmer or slightly cooler. The intent is to keep the boiler only heating the rooms you want (and avoid getting a lovely bill for the entire house if you only occupy 2 rooms. LOL).

These valves in our house and most homes however have long since become heat welded practically and almost part of the piping, unable to be turned. As such many of the older homes installed zoning areas to allow control over parts of the house to produce this controlled and cost saving effect.

Paul, ever the perfectionist, wanted the system fully operational. He researched what it would take, if it was possible to remove those valves himself and replace them. First of all, were they available still? And then, how to remove them? Luckily, with the help of the local hardware store, yes, ultimately the valves had to come from 3 different sources to have enough but the valves were obtainable, so we ordered them.

Paul then worked on each radiator, unit by unit, remove and replacing the valve. He had to cut the old valve, being careful not to cut the threads of the radiator, then use an incredible amount of strength, using the pipe extenders to gain leverage with wrenches, feet against the walls, he was able to remove every valve that no longer turned. Replacing the valves were almost just as much fun as the units were so close to the wall, how to use the wrench and get the tork you need to turn it, not to mention the pipes that tried to drop down in the floor when disengaged and needed to be lifted back up and threaded to make them hang onto the radiators…again, some creative juices flowing those days on how to prop, push, shove in boards here, pull pipes these…but he made it happen. All valves were replaced!

Add to that the piping and vent pipes he chose to install under the house as it involved tearing into the foundation for venting. Paul was concerned about the appearance of where it would go and how it would be done, so he helped out and did that part himself, crawling on his stomach in a space not much more than 15 or 16 inches to the back area, and running the pipes, connecting and gluing all the wall. When the plumber/contractors returned to finish the hook up, they inspected his work and offered him a job! LOL…needless to say, he turned it down. But he worked hard on many very cold mornings and nights in that dark dirt and space to make sure the house was plumbed as well as it could be.

Just this last week, with the gas inspectors approval, the contractors were ready for the important steps of installing the units and turning them on. We waited and watched anxiously as they flipped the switch and behold…the lights came on and the slow hum of equipment began.

We waited anxious for 12 hours, 16 hours and overnight, knowing we had just turned on water throughout the house and what kind of damage would happen if those radiators leaked.

But the next morning, we checked and the temperature began to climb…..

and climb….and glorious heat began to fill the air in that house again! After so many days of working with gloves, long johns, shirts, hoodies and then jackets on top of that in that frigid home, every time you spoke you saw your breathe even inside, there was heat!

And my favorite radiator of all works, too!! This one is in the kitchen. Notice the doors on it; it was meant as a warming try for pies, breads, etc… What a clever idea!

Everything they said about radiators was correct; the units are not hot to the touch, merely warm, there were not hot or cold spots, just a gentle ambiant heat that filled the air. Wow! These things work! Now we have electricity, plumbing and heat in the house.

That’s a big Merry Christmas to us!