Steam guys !

Unknown

Hello my fellow steam heads.
What is the threshold for too much baseboard on a steam boiler in perportion to the boiler size ?
I have this info somewhere in the abyss.
If any of you guys has this info handy please let me know.
Thank's a gazillion !

JohnNY

Corrected my math:

At 180°, one foot of fin tube will emit the equivalent of approximately 3.41 square feet EDR.

One foot of fintube at 180 = about 580 btu











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Unknown

Thanks for the info man. However that still doesn't tell me the threshold of too much baseboard on a steam boiler. Is it 10%, 30%, 50% ?

Cause if you put too much baseboard on a steam boiler it will make the steam zone a lot longer to satisfy it's t-stat.
Knowing where that threshold is will allow baseboard to be connected to the steam boiler without any consequence to the amount of time it'll take to make steam.

Brad White_185

100%

But then it would be a hot water boiler

Unknown

See when you pipe the baseboard in, & the baseboard zone is calling @ the same time as the steam zone, you're constantly mixing to prevent steam from flashing in the baseboard zone.

That mixing is what will cause the steam longer to form if you have too much baseboard.

Unknown

haha very funny !

Unknown

Phil_17

too much baseboard

Well he did answer your question! Assuming the edr of 3.41 per foot is correct.It is up to you with the rating plate in front of you to size for the additonal load you want to connect to.What is the square foot rating of the boiler?How much baseboard do you plan to run?10 feet=34.1 square? 20 feet 68.2? And so on.Can your boiler handle the additional load.

Maine Ken

Unknown

Yes Yes thank you ! Duh on me ! So If I'm sizing a new boiler that has say 300 sq.ft. of steam. I have to make sure I do not exceed my 30% pick-up factor for the baseboard. That's what I remember reading.

1)size the boiler for steam
2)make sure the amount of baseboard being connected does not exceed the pick-up factor

Thanks a gazillion guys !

Phil_17

But if the baseboard zone is too large the boiler will continue to heat the steam zone with unwanted heat trying to heat the baseboard loop!The same way unwanted heated is emitted when a tankless coil is overdrawn from on a regular steamer. If the Rads and edr in the house is (round #'s) 300 square and the boiler is 325 square feet. If your loop is too large you will overheat the house with the baseboard loop trying to satisfy it own thermostat!!

Unknown

I've done this many times before successfully. It's just been a little while & I couldn't find my paper work on it that's all.
Thanks again

Unknown

exactly my point. exactly what I'm looking to avoid along with the steam taking too long.

DanHolohan

It's a game of subtraction

Here's an article that will help.

bob young

zone valve

add a modulating valve on steam riser & enjoy the festivities

Unknown

thank you. this is what was lost in the abyss

Unknown

1)size the boiler for steam 2)make sure the amount of baseboard being connected does not exceed the pick-up factor

that's what I was looking for.
thanks Dan