Problem with Monoflo system

Dany

Hi,

I’m new to the forum and I don’t now much about heating or plumbing so please excuse my ignorance and the long post.

Two years ago I bought a house that was built around 1951. It’s been 2 winters already, and I have noticed that many of the “radiators” are cold or at least not hot enough. The house is in the Northeast (Long Island). On the coldest days the system cannot keep up with the cold; although my thermostat is set to 72F or 70F, the system only gets to 65F or 66F.

I know that insulation is not perfect but that alone doesn’t explain the cold radiators. My plumber helped me both winters with the bleeding of the radiators, thinking that the problem was air in the system. Meanwhile I think that I’m spending double the gallons of oil than my neighbors.

Since my boiler is very old, probably more than 30 years, I asked for quotes to replace it, thinking that I may recover the investment in about 5 years. Along with the quotes I was told to replace all the piping, and install new baseboard panels.

Because of the cost of going along with this plan I started researching online, and tried to identify what system I have. After two weeks I can say that I know with certainty that I have a Monoflo system. There is a 1¼’’ main line that pretty much runs along the perimeter of the house except for one area. Each radiator is connected to the main line through a feed fitting, 1/2’’ pipe and a return monoflo fitting. All radiators are in the main floor. The main line is in the basement.

To my surprise I saw what seems to be a bad attempt to install an additional radiator. There is an area where the main line doesn’t run along the perimeter of the house, but there is a radiator in that area (dining room). That radiator is not connected to the main line like the rest. Instead, the main line is reduced from 1 ¼ ‘’ to ½’’ and 1/2 ‘’ goes to the radiator and comes back to the line through a ½ to 1 ¼ fitting. No Monoflo is used in the piping for this radiator; it’s all just regular fittings.

So I’m all excited that I think I found what’s going on, but I would like to get your opinion.

- Would the reduction of the main line explain the cold radiators in the system?

- If I take that radiator out and reconnect the two main line segments (they are just 6’’ apart) will the system work fine again? Do I still have to think about replacing the boiler? And the old and dirty radiators?

- If so, what’s the right way to install that radiator? It is about 40 feet from the boiler.

Thank you all in advance.