Convector Question

Steve Nichols

Hi Everyone,

I recently purchased a house that was built in 1939 and fitted with a Trane convector one pipe steam system. The convectors look like baseboard units recessed into the walls, and some are "wider" than others (more copper tubes between the cast iron ends). My question concerns calculating square footage of these units. At some point, I will need to change out the coal to oil converted furnace (yes, very old) and want to be able to get a ballpark estimate on the BTU needed for the replacement boiler. Dan's book, which is a great read, goes into some detail about square feet per section for some common radiator types, but I'm not sure if the convector style matches up with anything listed. If I am calculating square footage of the units, am I to include the surface area of both sides of all the aluminum fins or just the copper tubing that runs through the middle? Thanks for any help. I can post pics if needed.

Steamhead (in transit)

More to it than that

If the Trane convectors starting on page 244 of "E.D.R." don't match up, go here for older Heat Cabinets and Concealed Heaters:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/pdfs/218.pdf

These are in the Library section of this site.

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Steve Nichols

thanks

Steamhead,

Thanks for alerting me to that. I found the library section a little bit after I posted the message. I probably should have been more thorough and checked the resources on this site before posting. By the way, thanks for scanning that old documentation in. Pretty cool to find old paperwork like that. I'll give it a good read.