Steam With Hydronic loop question

Frank G.

I am weighing my options for a new addition to my home. I have a 1965 steam boiler with a one pipe setup and I have lots of capacity to heat additional space (we measured BTU of gas burned in one minute at the gas meter as the boiler is not labeled re capacity). I've read here that I can add a hydronic loop to the steam system in most cases. My question is that my heating person is saying that boilers of this type don't have enough water to supply a large hydronic loop. I would be adding 3 radiators and heating an additional 400 square feet. I didn't see anything in any of the posting or articles that relates to capacity concerns. Is there any way I can tell whether he is accurate? Wouldn't the system just keep filling the boiler as water is pulled off?

clammy

1965

That's kinda old i don't know if what he is saying is true .I've done baseboard loops off steam boilers but not rads .If all your numbers are right i don't see any reason that it would not work but bear in mind that a steam boiler being used is not the most effecent way to heat hot water for a hydronic loop plus you will be circulating all 41 years of mud and gunk into your rads and baseboard plus all that junk ain't the beat for circ pumps .The best way is too use a indirect tank with a exchanger and pump off that a bit more money but the right way to do it .On the left hit hot tech topics i believethrer are a few articles on single pipe condensate heating good luck and peace clammy

Bob W._3

Click on Heating Q&A on the above left menu and then click on condensate hot water heating.

ernie_3

brazed plate

You should look into a brazed plate type heat exchanger. Very little water needed to heat the plate and seperate water source on the load side. I've had good luck w' adding radiators for forced h/w off of a steamer w' these.