Sidearm on a steam unit?

Bob_76

Thank you for your replies, gentlemen. And I apologize for the delayed response on my end. Have been away on bz.

Steamhead: In fact it was Palmer Heating who changed out all of my vents and charged me the $1k for parts/labor. Meanwhile, there was no improvement. I phoned them on this, and was told they'd come out and perform a full analysis. Unfortunately they never did. In any case, two different companies subsequently confirmed that my newly installed boiler was about 40% undersized (Utica). Fortunately the original installers worked with me on the problem, and swapped out for the larger size.

rjbphd: I misspoke about the contractor bidding on my addition; he apparently did do a heat loss calculation - but I haven't asked him yet whether my exisiting steam unit will support the new space. Or, equally important, whether he'd be willing to use steam to heat my new construction (something it seems many contractors are reluctant to do). I'll do this and see how they respond.

Again, I appreciate you gentelmen taking the time here. Bob

Bob_76

sidearm on a steam boiler


Hello: I'm bidding out a rennovation on my upstairs. Two contractors have suggested a separate combination hot air/air conditioning for this floor. A third, however, has suggeted that I simply attach a "sidearm" to my existing Utica steam boiler (7000 btu) and run hot water heat to the upstairs. Would appreciate some advice here. Would attaching this sidearm adversely effect the steam system on my first floor? Would I be better served by simply going with the separate hot air furnace for the upstairs? Is one system more cost-effective than the other? Thank you, Bob.

Steamhead (in transit)

What I'd do

is run steam pipes upstairs to new (or salvaged) steam radiators. This would be the least complicated option as far as its operation, and all your combustion would be in one place. The boiler and mains would have to have the needed capacity. Has anyone done a heat-loss calculation on your addition?

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Bob_76

Thank you, Steamhead. No, neither the contracators or the architect have conducted a heat loss calculation. I would very much like to implement your solution. What I found from my experience last year, though, is that not a lot of contractors in this area (Bergen County, NJ) inspire confidence when it comes to steam. All started when I converted to a gas-steam system from oil, and the contractor undersized (he never measured the raditors; rather, he simply went off the size of the existing unit). Long story short, I had at least 3-4 contractors in after the first, all of whom told me something different (one proposed repiping for $2,500; another changed out all the vents and charged me a $1000 - with no improvement). The only bright spot about last year was that I found my way to the wall, and even came to know yourself - so I very much appreciate your taking the time to respond. Anyway, this is a lot more than you asked for, but just wanted you to have some context. While my wife and I absolutely love steam heat - we've had it in two different houses now - I'm not sure that either of us would feel confident about expanding it to new contruction. Last year's experience left us feeling pretty beaten up. Bob

Steamhead (in transit)

Have you tried

Palmer Heating, in Rahway? It's a second-generation company with lots of steam knowledge. Ken Secor started it, his son runs it now.

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Unknown

never?

Never did the heat loss on ur new additon? How do the builder or artichet know the size of ur new furance which u will be miserable, also, ur new gas boiler undersized after stating they took the number off the old system ? Who said it was undersised? Sounds like u had furance companies looking at ur system... Can u post some pixs of ur boiler so we wallies can help ya?