Finding a baseboard radiator part

April 26, 2022 10:48 AM

Hi! I have baseboard steam radiators in my new place--it's a condo, so I am responsible for repairing them. I need to cap off the pipe pictured at this link: https://imgur.com/a/t8Ztpqx How can I find out what part to get, thereby avoiding a service call? Any ideas? A cursory search for radiator end caps and the like gets me the end piece to the radiator cover. Thank you for your help.
posted by 8603 to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Is there a thread inside the pipe to be capped? Can't tell from the picture.
posted by bluefrog at 10:57 AM on April 26, 2022

If so, what you need is a radiator pipe plug. These come in standardized size. Taking the picture to a plumbing supply store, they should be ableto give you the right part (or a couple different sizes, just in case).
posted by bluefrog at 11:04 AM on April 26, 2022

It's a bit hard to tell from the picture, but that looks like a valve outlet? Is the bit to the left in the photo some kind of handle?

A clearer picture would be helpful.
posted by jellywerker at 1:34 PM on April 26, 2022

If that is a valve handle on the left, can't you just close it and remove the handle to ensure it doesn't get accidentally opened?

Otherwise, it looks to me like that's a standard external thread that just needs an internally threaded cap screwed on with some thread tape to seal it. Clean it up first with a wire brush and take a clear picture to your local hardware store and they can give you what you need. Take a measurement of the threaded part (internal or external, wherever the thread is) - it doesn't need to be perfectly accurate, because fittings only come in so many sizes, but it will ensure you have the best chance of getting the right one. Taking a picture of the fitting with a ruler included is a good way to do this.
posted by dg at 3:23 PM on April 26, 2022