Hot Water Loop on Steam Boiler

SBoston

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Last year we installed a new gas fired Burnham independence steam boiler… this year we would like to add a hot water loop for some radiant baseboard heat in the basement. We have had three contractors tell us that they would not recommend adding a hot water loop to the boiler because it's very inefficient and will cause me trouble. I can't even get them to give me an estimate because they refuse to install it.

This seems contradictory to what I have heard and read on this wall.

One contractor suggested installing a separate hot water tank and running the baseboard off of that.

The other contractor suggested installing a gas fired, direct vented heating unit in the room.

Are hot water loops a bad idea? </span>

jpf321

can't speak from experience..however ...

There is a chapter in Dan's "We Got Steam Heat" book regarding the addition of a hydronic loop on a steam system. Perhaps you have the book and have forgotten, or you can order it from this site and then show it to your contractor. They may speak about it in Dan other book The Lost Art of Steam Heat .. but I haven't gotten to that chapter yet :-)



Good luck .. I hope some of the more experienced Pros have some input for you.

ed wallace

hot water loop off steam boiler

it can be done threw a buffer tank i have done it using a side arm tankless

Charlie from wmass

The boiler in my ad has 3 hot water zones

It can be done and is not that involved. Just a matter of getting a person with the correct experience. Dans article covers it well. It would be piped as per your manual for and indirect water heater. Best of luck.

Steamhead

And this boiler has a HW loop too

which is one of several we've done.