Remove pipe wrap to heat basement?

droid

I have hot water heat and a cold basement with pipes wrapped in what I assume is asbestos. A friend has a warm basement with HWH and exposed pipe. Asbestos removal problems aside, would this be a feasable option for warming up the basement or should I add radiators? Thank You

Long Beach Ed

It Depends...

If the system were properly designed, the boiler and radiators put out enough heat to maintain say 70 degrees when it's zero outside.

If you add radiators (which is technically what you are doing when you remove pipe wrap) you will not be able to heat the place on the coldest days.

Also, since your new radiators (or exposed pipe) is not in designed locations, you may get some uneven heating. Remember, the water temperature at the end of the loop with the exposed pipe will be cooler and the last radiator will be cooler.

In reality, most systems are quite oversized for the buildings, and you may be able to get away with this.

You can give it a chance, but you shouldn't be too surprised if you have problems. A heating system is designed as a system, and when you molest it, it bites you back one way or another.

Long Beach Ed