Replace or suck it up??

The Wire Nut

on the general questions section of the Wall...

jim stringer

Replace or run extra loop

We have an existing low efficiency gas fired Peerless steam boiler but it is only 2 years old. DOE 171,000 BTU
IBR 129,000 BTU

We built a 2 story 800 sq foot addition that increases home size by 50%. We need to heat this space obviously.

Question: We have wanted to move the system to anout of the way part of garage, got 2 quotes $5500 and $7000. Price to move seems almost as much as a new system. Should we invest the extra now and replace w/ High Efficiency unit, get rid of all the extra steam pipes and run radiant and radiators?

or stop dreaming and just run a single 2 zone hot water loop off of existing boiler(only 2 years old)leaving it in basement and never get that space to use, but save money now, spend more on fuel in future?

D107

You didn't say whether your boiler was sized properly

to the steam radiators. HO here anticipating what some of the wallies might say if they get around to your thread. You can find tables on this site to help you measure your existing EDR. If you're oversized you can add steam rads to your new area. And the hot water loop might work for an indirect HWH. Sometimes in order to reclaim space a boiler is moved WITHIN a basement, maybe near a wall to gain the room.

If you state your location (and boiler model#) you might get some feedback; I think it would be a great idea to get a steam pro in your area to come down for a consult to give you the possibilities. Seems a shame to discard a two-year old boiler--can it really be that inefficient? A good steam guy can tune your system, vents, controls, repair piping errors and increase efficiency.

Good luck,

David