New Steam System

Rex Whitmore_2

I'm putting together a steam heating system. It will be completely new except for the radiation. I have completed a room by room heat loss on the house and have located all of the radiators the total sqft of steam for the radiation is 498 a little oversized. The boiler will be a Weil Mclain EG-55 LP boiler 521 sqft output. I will be following the manufactures recommendations on the near boiler piping with a hartford loop. I would like to use thermostatic radiator valves in place of standard valves 1) to assist with balancing heat output of the radiators room to room. 2) to set rooms that don't get used to often down to a lower temp. I'm at the piping stage and would like some input on 1 and 2 pipe steam. I would like to keep it simple but effective. One of my thoughts is to go 2 pipe for a possible water conversion later on down the road way down. Any suggestions pipe sizing, air venting, and trapping would be appreciated. Thank you for your time!

Rex

Timco

1 or 2 pipe

The only way to TRV a 1-pipe is with a TRV in line with the vent, and it looks ridiculous but works great. I like 2-pipe myself. Do yourself a favor and buy Dan's 'Lost Art of Steam' in the shop section...



Tim

ttekushan_3

Like Timco,

I prefer two pipe. There are so many variations of steam systems that it boggles the mind. For example, If you have a large home but it is two stories, and you want to use single pipe, then you may want to drip the risers. Alternately, a two pipe arrangement might allow you to build an orifice vapor system whereby radiator steam traps may not be necessary at all. Single pipe has only one pipe at the radiator, but its a hefty one. Some my find it more manageable to use two pipes of smaller diameter.



I'm finishing a 200 EDR addition to an existing orifice vapor system with water seal orifice traps. Its quite a rare experience to follow the unique engineering principles of the original system so that the completed addition heats the same as the existing and with total silence. Its so satisfying. I wish I could send everyone through the client's home!



Of course, you will have to give tours of the completed project. Okay, that isn't mandatory but pics would be nice.



Look at the possibilities closely. And take advantage of modern heat loss programs to that you are installing a properly sized heating system rather than the oversized ones that typify the "ancient era."



For myself, I'd like to try a variant of the SelecTemp system by Iron Fireman. You will find this system in the "Library" section under Unusual Systems. Its unusual, alright. At first it seems to cast every rule of steam heating to the wind. I joined Gerry Gill in Cleveland for a field trip to a home with one of these systems. It does everything they say and more. I have never experienced such a FAST system. And quiet too. I can't figure out why this idea wasn't more successful.



Anyway, maybe more details of the size and layout of your home would be helpful. We're here to help it go as smoothly as possible.



-Terry