Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Unusual steam system

Steve Garson_2
Steve Garson_2 Member Posts: 712
in THE MAIN WALL
Today I was winterizing an old building for the winter. It has two 42"x36" ducts that go to the roof. I took off the grills and crawled inside. What I found inside was a big steam radiator that has been sending heat to the sky. I guess years back, if the dampers on the ducts were set the right way (one near ceiling and one at the floor) the heat would convect into the room. But no one knew that and the top damper was always shut to the room, sending heat to the sky. I shut off the radiators and sealed the openings to cut the heat loss.

There is also a giant radiator in the basement that looks almost like the inside of a boiler section that heats a air in a duct that feeds the same large room.
Steve from Denver, CO

Comments

  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    That radiator heating the sky

    was actually a ventilation device. It created a chimney current in the vertical duct to draw air out. This room must have been used for gatherings and they wanted to make sure there was enough fresh air when needed.

    Pics?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Steve Garson_6
    Steve Garson_6 Member Posts: 35


    It was a ballroom with stage.

    Question on the big basement radiator that heats the air for the duct to the same ballroom.

    On the opposite side of the room is a similar duct that works as a return to the basement i.e. no radiator. I hate the idea of circulating warm air into the basement. Will I completely defeat the function of the other duct if I cover the return? There is also the fire safety concern of having these open chimneys between the floors.

    What do you think?
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    where does the one that heats the room

    get its cool air from? if you close off the other one it may not work..just sit there hot but not convecting air..you can't put more air into the room if its air can't leave..you already blocked out the ventilating flue Steamhead referred to..now all you'll do is recirculate the already present air..okay if there arn't a bunch of stinky people gathering..

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

This discussion has been closed.

Categories