Recessed Radiators

Brad White_198

It depends on how they are recessed. If cast iron behind a stamped front-only grille, you will lose about 25-30 percent.

If the enclosure is open only at the bottom and at the top, the added convection (chimney effect), increases output by 5 to 10 percent. You gain convective output in the form of more air turn-over but as Ed noted, you lose the radiant effect we mortals crave.

If you can cut out a top grille and blank off all but the bottom third of the front face, you can boost capacity nicely, I would submit.

It is hard to beat cast iron for steady output.

I take a very gentle exception to Ed's comment on efficiency in that finned elements depend on how generously they are sized. Even low water temperatures work and while fin-tube types often use higher water temperatures, so does cast iron.

Radiant effect aside, I too was surprised to see how the output curves for CI versus Fin Tube were very similar. (Their ability to store and emit heat <i>over time</i> is an obvious difference, but all things being equal, BTU for BTU at a given water temperature it is about the same.)

Anyway, my $0.02

Bart_7

Recessed Radiators

I have an older church with recessed radiators. We assume that they are inefficent due to them being recessed. Can i prove that? Is Basebaord more efficent than cast iron radiators? What is the easiest fix to make the system more efficient? Has a 2 year old boiler. thanks

Big Ed_4

I prefer cast iron radiators over then copper tube baseboard for the following reasons. You can run the system on a lower temperature. Lower the temperture less systems heat loss. You receive nice radiant and convection heat. They are more durable.

You can loose heat in outside wall resess radiators if they are not insulated in the back.

look into a outdoor reset control for more savings.