question on steam radiator leak

[harveymasons]

I have a very old steam single pipe heating system w/ radiators, seems I have a radiator in the 2nd floor bathroom that is leaking through the ceiling down to the first floor bathroom, it is not leaking at the valve or any of the piping I can see from the 2nd floor bathroom.

The water is dripping down and staining the 1st floor bathroom ceiling. It is a drop ceiling fortunately, but when I took the soggy panal off it looks pretty scary up there, old wood strips w/ what looks to be old old concrete.

Short of replacing the rotted pipe is there any other options here? I have since closed the valve on the 2nd floor bathroom and the leak has stopped, this is only a temp. fix :(

p.s. this is a 4 family house heated by one boiler. I think it leaks when the steam condenses to water and flows back to the boiler. I guess it wouldn't leak when the steam comes up b/c it is a vapor/gas?? But once it turns to water the leak starts.....

any help or suggestions would be great.

regards,
Harvey

[jadnashua]

You've got the concept down on how it works...probably will need to replace the pipe; if, that is, you can find out it really is a pipe. Try to find what is actually leaking. I'm not a pro, but you may find that once you start taking things apart, you need to go further than you want to and replace more.