Hot Water Loop on Steam Boiler

SBoston

<span>

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>

Steamhead

HW loops work great

if properly installed. Have you tried the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone who knows what they're doing? 

DanHolohan

Good advice from Steamhead.

Also, look here: http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/17/Hot-Water/76/Condensate-Hot-Water-Heating

SBoston

Hot Water Loop on Steam Boiler



Steamhead, unfortunately we did use "find a professional" for the original installation. Without naming names, the local "profesional" piped the whole system in copper. From what I have read and learned from Dan's books, Steam heat with copper = bad.

I ended up repiping the system myself with a 2" drop headers. Needless to say I have learned a lot about piping and steam. The system works good, even without main vents.

Is there anyone in the Boston area you would recommend? If adding a hot water loop is the best way, all I need is for a someone to add the loop and I can do the rest.

SBoston

Norm we

have moved to the Northshore... Right off 93... is that a problem? I see you deal mostly in the South Shore.