Runtal towel warmer in gravity system?

gasfolk

and a Runtal panel rad for supplemental heat in a rear entryway, and even with 1/2 inch supply and return it heats to our needs. We did take a supply and return off the gravity mains for a pumped zone (with Tekmar radiant floor controller) to radiant heat for the kitchen and a bathroom with ceramic tile floors, and if you can, it is definitely worth it.

Just our experience. YMMV.

gf

mike poole

Runtal towel warmer in gravity system?

Hello all- first, many thanks from this lurker for your expertise! I've only recently found this board and have already learned some details about my heating system that I just hadn't been able to figure out...

For now, I have just a quick newbie question, I'm sure I'll be back with some other stuff later... a rough outline of my system is:

•American Radiator Company gas-fired boiler
•gravity system, no pump, although there is a
•Honeywell Heat Generator (seems to be working- pressure gauge on system shows 10PSI when system on)
•Double risers/returns, largest 2", other 1.5"
•Radiator pipes either 1" or 3/4" depending on rad size.
•System currently only has rads on one floor, 2nd floor rads and piping were removed long before I got the house. 2nd floor heat currently lame forced air. Blech.
•I usually run ~150 degree water, this works fine for all but the coldest spells here in Nashville TN
•system works great as-is. I've only had to replace the main gas valve (was a Detroit Controls unit, mica plate & everything- fascinating piece of technology) and add a Honeywell T775 for control.


I'm in the midst of bathroom renovations and am toying with the idea of adding towel warmers/incidental heat rads to both bathrooms (1st and 2nd floors) since I have the walls open and can re-pipe. I have the original taps available on the supply riser and return: mid-pipe for 2nd floor, 45 degree/top pipe for 1st floor.

Do the Runtals or similar panel rads have enough water volume to work properly w/o a pump? Would the 1/2" pipe size effectively work as a plate restrictor on the 2nd floor unit?

The bathrooms are small, so they don't really need much in the way of real heat- the 1st floor has been fine without any heat actually in the bathroom, the 2nd floor has air heat but the wind chill practically negates it.

Comments? Suggestions?

gasfolk

We have gravity without a pump...

and a Runtal panel rad for supplemental heat in a rear entryway, and even with 1/2 inch supply and return it heats to our modest needs (haven't put a thermometer to it to calculate btu output). We did take a supply and return off the gravity mains for a pumped zone (with Tekmar radiant floor controller) to radiant heat for the kitchen and a bathroom with ceramic tile floors, and if you can, the floor warmth on chilly days is definitely worth the effort.

Just our experience. YMMV.

gf