Keep steam or convert for addition

John S.

I would forget the headroom. The pipes in the basement are part of the beauty of that old system. Adding radiation to it and moving some radiators should not be a problem, however, you'll have to get a pro in to see if your current boiler will handle the extra radiators or if it will need to be replaced.

Another option, which might be the best would be to run a hot water zone off your steam boiler and add radiant heat to the addition. That would be the cat's meow.

At any rate, you've come to the right place to get advice!

Brian_36

keep steam or convert for addition

Putting an addition on to 1875 house with existing steam system. Will need to install 4 new radiators and move 2 existing. One pipe steam with single nipple radiators. We also want to move overhead pipes in basement to get headroom for basement renovation and move location of the boiler. I have read up on problems of conversion (adding return, possible leaks, air tap at top of radiators...etc). I also have "Lost Art of Steam Heating" and am inclined to keep steam, however is the work involved prohibitive in scope when compared to conversion to hot water. Can I re-pipe steam pipes for headroom, added radiators and relocation of boiler, or is this nuts?

Brian_36

relocating boiler

Thanks for the reply. I guess I can live with leaving pipes where they are (I'll just learn to duck-like in the house I grew up in) but would really like to move boiler about 8 feet (for venting and space issues) Is this conceivable, practical or something else I'll have to learn to live with?