Can You Sandblast Radiators and Restore Them?

December 5, 2021

What to Know About Sandblasting and Restoring Radiators

Restoring Radiators

Steam radiators are an excellent way of keeping your building heated in the winter. They spread heat efficiently, are relatively low maintenance, and give rooms a vintage look that some appreciate so much that they choose to keep radiators even if they don’t use them for heat anymore.

Aside from their appearance and efficiency, steam radiators are part of a durable heating system that will last for decades, especially when maintained in good condition. If you have radiators in your home or workspace that have chipping paint or corroded spots, sandblasting is an effective solution to extending the life of your units.

Why Use Radiators?

Steam radiation is one of many choices you have to heat your building. The room units are connected to a central boiler that heats water, piping steam to the radiators. The radiator wings heat up and distribute heat to the room. Radiators are made of metal, usually iron, aluminum, steel, or copper.

Radiator heating systems recycle the heated water, which only needs to be replaced when enough evaporation lowers the water level in the boiler to a defined point. The steam heating process and metal units deliver a regular, even heat.

Keeping Radiators Clean

Keeping your radiators clean will help prevent corrosion from eroding the metal, lasting longer without needing to be replaced. The cost of maintenance is usually less than replacement when it comes to these large heating systems. Everyday cleaning like dusting and wiping down the units when they aren’t being used; vacuuming and cleaning the floors under and behind them; keeping the supply and air valves clean will keep the units in good functioning condition.

Some typical problems can occur if the air valve isn’t clear or the supply valve isn’t fully opened or closed. A dirty air valve can result in buildup of cold air that doesn’t get released, which can lead to uneven heating of the unit, and sub-optimal heating of the air. Water easily condenses in these pockets of cold air and can build up in the unit. When the next round of hot steam comes into the radiator, it engages with the cold water and results in the clanging that comes from the temperature reactions.

How Does Sandblasting Help?

Sandblasting in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

When you use professional sandblasting contractors to restore your radiators, they’ll bring the units to their shop to clean and prepare them to reinstall. Sandblasting , or blast cleaning, is very effective at removing paint, especially from objects like radiators that have deep crevasses and hard-to-reach interior space. Using an abrasive mixture, sandblasting can clear paint, rust, other corrosion, and other kinds of buildup to expose the clean metal structure. Once the metal is clear of dirt and paint, the smooth surface is prepared to be repainted. Heat- and corrosion-resistant paint helps maintain radiators looking and working like new over the long term.

For building managers and homeowners in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, trust ELCO ’s decades of service to restore your radiators and keep them in top condition. Schedule a consultation with us today!

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Like many historic mills in New England , this building carried the weight of decades: peeling paint, dust, grime, and coatings that had long since lost their integrity. Ceilings, brick walls, and wood columns were all hidden beneath layers of paint that dulled the building’s original character. Simply painting over the old surfaces wasn’t an option. To get it ready for renovation, and its next phase of life as modern apartments, the space needed to be stripped back to its bones, restored, and sealed. That’s where our specialized sandblasting services came in. The Process: Sandblasting, Step by Step Sandblasting is as much about precision as it is about power. For this project, we worked floor by floor over three levels, using specialized equipment to remove years of buildup. Protecting the space. Before blasting, we set up containment to control dust and debris, ensuring the process stayed safe and efficient. Stripping surfaces. Using the right abrasive medium and calibrated pressure, we blasted away paint from the ceilings, brick, and wooden support columns. The goal wasn’t to erase history but to reveal it; to uncover the original materials while preserving their integrity. Revealing character. Once stripped, the natural beauty of the brick and timber shone through, showing off the craftsmanship that had been hidden for years. It never gets old!

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