Small Steam Radiator

Paul C._2

Have a small bathroom served by a one pipe steam radiator, 17 x 25 x 3.5 and looks like a 3 row or tube.  Contractor wants to either recess this radiator into the wall or replace with what I believe is a convector to save space.  Good idea?  Bad idea?  I don't want problems where none currently exist and how do I know if this convector is sized correctly?  Thanks.

Steamhead

It's always a bad idea

to replace a cast-iron radiator with a fin-tube unit if the rest of the system is cast-iron. The convector would cool down much faster when the boiler shuts down and the room will go cold.



A slight recess would work, as long as there is 6 inches or so recessed above the radiator to allow warmed air to come off the top.