A radiator with a cracked section, a weeping joint or a snapped foot does not automatically need replacing. We repair cast iron radiators in our own shop in Mount Vernon, and in a prewar building the original radiator is usually worth keeping.
What Can Be Repaired
Cracked sections, leaking joints and broken or missing feet are the three we see most. We assess the crack or joint and repair it where the casting allows, using the joining method that suits cast iron rather than whatever is quickest.
Missing decorative parts can be fabricated to match the ones still on the radiator, so a repair does not announce itself.
What Is Not Worth Repairing
Some damage is beyond economic repair, and we will tell you that rather than take the job and hand you a bill for a radiator that was never going to hold. A honest assessment up front costs you nothing and saves the disappointment later.
Repair or Full Refurbishment
Repair fixes a specific fault. Refurbishment is the full reset: strip, repair and refinish. Most people who call us asking for a repair end up wanting the full refurbishment once they see what a stripped radiator actually looks like under the paint.
There is no pressure either way. If the radiator works and you only need the leak stopped, we will stop the leak.
Heat and Efficiency
Layers of old paint insulate the iron and reduce the heat that reaches the room. If a radiator has been painted over a dozen times, repairing the fault and stripping it back will often improve how it heats as well as how it looks.
Common Questions About Radiator Repair
Can you repair a cracked or leaking radiator?
Often yes. We assess the crack or joint and repair where the casting allows it. Some damage is beyond economic repair, and we will say so.
Do I need to take the radiator out myself?
No. We collect radiators and return them finished across Mount Vernon, Westchester and the New York City area, which matters when a radiator weighs several hundred pounds.
How do I get an assessment?
Send us a photo of the break or the leak. We can tell you a great deal from a photograph before anything moves.
Send Us a Photo of the Damage
Email or text a photo of the crack, joint or foot, or call (914) 662-4218. If it turns out the radiator is worth doing properly, see cast iron radiator restoration for the full process.
Projects Like This
Real projects from our own shop and job sites. Every one of these is work we did ourselves.
Yankee Stadium Plaques
In April 2008, the New York Yankees and Skanska Construction Corporation hired Metal Man Restoration to restore two...
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Metal Man Restoration at Yale University's Harkness Tower
Metal Man Restoration was hired in June 2009 to restore the cast iron windows at Yale University's Harkness Tower...
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The Rialto The Capital At The Beacon
The former Jersey City Medical Center is a landmark Art Deco complex built between 1928 and 1941 that sat largely...
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We moved into a very old house with radiators that were in bad shape, to say the least! I found Anthony from Metal Man and wow, amazing transformation as you can see in the before pic... Truly we were astonished when they were returned to us. Pick up and delivery by Manny was seamless, with great...
Our Clients
We serve a diverse range of clients, including homeowners, contractors, antique dealers, hardware companies, insurance companies, restoration companies, and collectors.