Is my boiler oversize ?

oil-2-4-6-gas

if only every house was that oversized .--the word oversized would never even be mentioned , most homes are actually grossly oversized 50-100% I have seen 1 that was 250%

HQ

Is my boiler oversize ?

I'm a homeowner and This is my first posting.
I'd like first to thank everyone on the Wall for everything I've learned about steam heating. Reading the Wall is so addictive.


Would you help to confirm if my calculation below is correct that my boiler is oversize about 16%.


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Radiators American Standard:
5 tube type, 2.5" section-section.


Height(in)..Sections.._ Sq. Ft.Steam/section.._ Sq. Ft. Steam/radiator

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38 14 5 70

38 09 5 45

38 08 5 40


38 08 5 40


38 06 5 30


38 06 5 30


38 04 5 20


20 20 2.67 53.3


20 13 2.67 34.7


18 08 2.25 18

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Total (Sf. Ft. Steam of radiators) 381.0

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System Info:


Installation date: unknown, but more than 17 yrs


Single pipe steam: Paralell flow system with Wet return + Hartford loop


Insulation: All the mains + returns


2 end of main vents: Gordon #2



Boiler Info: Weil-Mclain EG-50



Boiler Rating:



Input: 175000 Btuh


Output: 145000 Btuh


Sq. Ft. Steam: 454 (I hope this excludes 33% pickup factor)


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Radiators(st.ft steam)/Boiler(sf.ft. steam)= (381/454)*100 = 83.92%


Oversize: (1-.8392)*100= 16.08%

Brad White_203

Not Bad

Your 381 connected EDR is well served by your 454 EDR radiator. Yes, it may be 16 percent over-sized, but one boiler section less would likely be undersized or too close to call.

A little over-sizing as you have is not a bad thing- heating times (steam-up times) would be faster and cycle times would not be ideal but would not be bad either.

Yes, the 454 EDR (108,960 BTUH delivered) does take into account the pickup factor. Multiply that BTUH number by 1.33 and you are in the 145,000 BTU range, close-enough.

I would not sweat it much, if indeed you are. Instead, I would focus on pipe (and house!) insulation, proper venting, low steam pressures and good principles in general.

I hope the system is working well otherwise.