Converting from Steam Heat to Hyrdo Air System - A mistake?

RBR

I am considering replacing my oil steam boiler and radiators with a hydro air system. I keep hearing that steam heat is the most comfortable. Am I crazy to change over to hydro air? Background:



- Original steam heating system from 1939 (when house built)

- 3600 sf house located in NYC suburbs (not great insulation but not the worst)

- Single zone system (master bedroom has poor heat as it was an addition and just never worked well from the start)

- I installed central Air 4 years ago so the house is is set up in three zones with dual speed air units for AC (I also had hydro coils installed at that time in each unit with a view I may convert down the road)

- I want to add heat to a room over my garage and there are no radiators set up threre for my steam system (currently a broken propane heater which I need to replace)



My hot water tank (seperate oil heater attached to it) started to leak and it is going to cost about $2300 to replace which is driving the need for me to finally decide what to do. It would also cost me about $3500 to fix a broken propane heater that I have in the room over my garage. If I went with hydro, I would be able to eliminate the need for a seperate hot water tank system. My thought is for about $12 thousand I can replace the entire system with an efficient three zone hyrdro air system and add another smaller zone for the room over my garage (and finally fix the heat in my master bedroom).



QUESTIONS:



- I keep hearing that steam heat and radiators are the best / most comfortable heat - am I crazy to conver to a hyrdro air system where the air cycles on and off more frequently.

- Is hydro air a comfortable heating system compared with steam radiators

- Would I likely save much money each year with a new system



Thank you so much in advance. I am stuck on what to do and I have to decide soon to either just replace my hot water tank or change the entire system.

nicholas bonham-carter

keep the radiators

if i were you i would keep the radiators, and attempt to make the added bedroom work properly. with the added comfort of all radiators functioning as well as their  1939 installer  could make them perform, your thoughts of hydro-air will disappear.

you need the help of a good steam man, to examine your system, improve the bedroom addition performance, find a solution for the garage, determine how best your domestic hot water needs can be supplied [whether from the boiler, or separate unit]. use the "find a professional" feature here.

he could advise whether a hot water loop from the boiler, or another steam line could handle the garage, and whether the boiler could be fitted with a hot water coil.

while you are waiting for the expert do a bit of reading here:

[url=http://www.heatinghelp.com/article-categories/16/Steam]http://www.heatinghelp.com/article-categories/16/Steam

radiators are quietest as there are no blowers involved. frequently, when removed, they leave a "visual hole" in the room. when steam is working well it is quiet, even, economical.--nbc

Jamie Hall

A matter of taste

A lot of times this sort of decision is a matter of taste -- what do you prefer?  Having said that, though...

First off, a steam system which is working well is about the quietest, most even (in terms of temperature variation) heating system available.  It is very likely, however, that your system -- unless it has been carefully maintained -- is not working as well as it should.  It would be worth a little time and effort to get to know it, and steam heat in general; I suggest getting Dan's books (A Steamy Deal, on this site) and reading them and poking around some.  In particular, that master bedroom problem should be solvable without too much trouble, unless the piping is really messed up (which is possible).

Second, may I assume that the hydro-air coils, fan capacities, and duct work were chosen with the heating load in mind, rather than the cooling load?  If not, you have a problem.  If so, then you could go to the hydro-air.  It does work, and with large enough ductwork and low speed, quiet fans, it works pretty well.  You would have the cost of removing the radiators, but that should be minor.

Third, you could heat that presently unheated room with a hot water loop off the steam boiler -- or if there is a hydro-air coil for that room, run that with a hot water loop off the boiler.  A little complex in terms of control, but quite feasible.

Fourth, I have always been wary of hot water taken from the main heating boiler.  A lot of folks like it, but I have an independent hot water heater (oil fired) and it saves running the main boiler all summer.  Something in that...

Fifth, it is highly unlikely that you will save any money by switching systems.  A steam system, running properly, is within a few percentage points of the efficiency of any other heating system (yes, I know, they quote 95% for some straight air systems and some hot water systems, and 'only' 85% for steam -- but that comes in the same category as EPA mileage ratings for your car).

First things first.  Tune up that steam system before you scrap it!

nicholas bonham-carter

good point!!

Jaimie, you were smart to catch that problem with the capacity of the coil units vs. the boiler capacity. that could be a tricky one to work around.--nbc

Steamhead

Having lived with both forced-air and radiators

I can tell you that removing your radiators would be a BIG mistake.



The only advantage of hydro-air over an ordinary furnasty is that if the heat exchanger cracks, you'll have a water leak instead of a flue-gas leak that may contain carbon monoxide. It still has the disadvantages of blowing dust and germs around, increasing infiltration/exfiltration etc. The moving air also makes you feel colder- great in summer, not in winter. You'll be turning the thermostat up to compensate.



And you will PAY for the demolition!! Not only for the guys with the sledgehammers, but also for others who you will need to fill all the holes where pipes used to come thru floors, ceilings and walls, sand everything etc. It's a dirty, dusty, noisy, aggravating experience.



There's nothing wrong with the steam system that a real pro can't fix. Once it is fixed, it will deliver better comfort and efficiency than forced-air (in whatever form) ever will. It also shouldn't be that hard to run a steam line to that room over the garage, assuming the steam mains and boiler will support it. Many times they can.



Keep the steam, and try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone near you who can help.



P.S. We don't discuss pricing on this board.

RBR

Thank you for the information

Thank you for your time and helpful information - very much appreciated.  I will see what I can do to tune up my existing steam system as it seems everyone believes it is the way to go versus replacing with Hydro (which I still can do down the road I guess if I really wish).  My ducts / vents / returns were all installed with AC in mind so I would imagine they may not be optimal for heat as well.  For further information (and I am not sure if this is important or not), my vents on the first floor are all floor vents and on the second floor they are all ceiling vents.  Also, all of my upstairs duct work is located in my attic which does get quite a bit colder than the rest of the house in the winter.

Unknown

Stay with the steam!

I'm a homeowner and struggled for years with my steam system which the local heating guys (not "steam pros") couldn't get to work properly.  I was constantly told I needed to "update to something more modern". I luckily found this site and with Dan's steam books and the help I got from the pros on this site now have a economical and comfortable steam system. It scares me to think how close I came to giving in and scrapping the steam!



I would first suggest you get Dan's books on steam heating - "We Got Steam Heat" and "The Lost Art of Steam Heating"  They are available singlely or as a package deal at the "Shop" above or use this direct link to the "Shop"

 http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Super-Deals/14/129/A-Steamy-Deal

They're easy reading and the knowledge you gain about steam heating pays for the books many times over. I would read them first and then get a "steampro" to look at your system. By reading the books first you'll also understand exactly what the steam pro is suggesting and be able to ask questions about your concerns.



As for the room over the garage- It is possible to run a hotwater radiator off a steam boiler so that may be an option. This is discussed in Dan's books.



- Rod