adding a steam radiator

Irv

one pipe

Irv

Adding an additional radiator

I want to add a radiator to my attic, 3rd floor.
What is the best way to tap off the supply line of the radiator which is directly below on the 2nd floor. I need to hook up in this way, no direct connection to the main.
Thanks

Noel

Steam system or water system?

Irv

Sorry, steam system

Noel

One pipe radiators or two pipe radiators?

Irv

one pipe

Noel

Well.....

Here's what you'll have to do. First, you'll need to find out the EDR (the size; rating) of the radiator that's there now and of the new one above. Then you'll need to find out the size of the riser AND of the horizontal piping that it connects to.

There's a chance that the mains from the boiler don't have any extra capacity to draw more steam from, so you'll need to assume that you'll have only enough steam to supply one radiator at a time with the existing piping. You can almost count on it.

All is not lost, though. If you control the NEW, upper radiator with a thermostatic vent valve, it will only heat when the room is below the temperature that you set the thermostat for, at all other times the steam, or most of the steam will go to the lower radiator. Since steam is lighter than air, it will try to fill the top radiator every time it comes on before ANY steam goes into the lower radiator; the reverse of filling a vessel with water.

The connection would go like this: remove all of the fittings from the top of the existing riser and put in a tee, the branch pointing to the existing radiator and the run pointing up at the proposed new radiator. Run the new pipe full size up to the new (or reuse the other radiator valve and radiator upstairs) location. Where the old radiator was, use a STEAM radiator valve that is straight through, instead of the angle valve that (probably) used to be there, and connect the radiator to that, moved over slightly to make up for the extra length of the fittings. You could use the same radiator vent that formerly was in that location.

Use one of these on the radiator upstairs.

http://www.maconcontrols.com/opsk1204.html

Noel

Irv

Thanks for the info.