sizing steam radiators

Stan_5

I have'nt sized steam radiators in a while but if I remember correctly, you need to calculate the EDR value of each radiator and add them together to get the total square feet of steam needed. Our salesman just sized a house by counting all the radiators and multiplying that number by 40. I believe 40 is a number some guys use to represent  btu's per square foot of living area, not btu's per square feet of steam. There are 13 radiators in this house, so he multiplied 13 times 40 and got 520 square feet of steam.Thats the size of the boiler we are installing. I believe this is completely wrong so I mentioned it to the installation manager but it fell on deaf ears. He said its just a rule-of-thumb measurement. I think in this particular house the boiler is oversized. I'm a little angry to say the least so what I would like to know is, has something changed in the way steam radiators are sized or do I have a reason to be extremely concerned about the size of this boiler.

kcopp

you are right...

try this... http://www.crownboiler.com/educate/sizeheat.asp

JStar

Eek.

Total EDR x 240 = Total BTUH.



Then multiply that number by 1.33 (adds a pick-up factor of 33% to account for pipe loss).

Rod

New Boiler

Hi Stan- Show the guy the door and tell him to go back to selling used cars

Here's an article that will be of help to you. http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/236/Homeowners/1490/How-to-have-a-boiler-replaced-without-getting-steamed

I've also attached a sheet which will help you calculate the EDR of all your radiators.

Here are some more articles that might be of help.



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/11/Hot-Tech-Tips/186/How-to-replace-an-old-steam-heating-boiler



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/107/Steam-Heating/118/Steam-boiler-near-boiler-piping





The fact is that very few people in the heating business really understand steam. You need to find a "steam pro".  At the top of this page there is a section "Find a Professional" scroll down past the zip code section to the "States" section and see if there is someone located near you. There are some really top notch steam pro listed there.

Don't hesitate to comeback her if we can answer any questions for you.

- Rod

BobC

EDR

I have a small NE colonial that has about 1,100 sq ft of living space. i have 6ea 3 column radiators that have an average of 6 sections and a small in wall radiator that I eyeballed at a 3 section equivalent. Using the chart mentioned above (also on pg 43,43 of the enclosed pdf) I get about 190 sq ft EDR for this house.



You have 13 vs my 7 radiators so the number that guy came up with sounds awfully high unless your radiators are very large compared to mine.



The enclosed heating helper booklet has some good information in it.

Stan_5

I just don't get it

Thanks for links. I would download them and give them to the salesman but I know he doesn't care. Sometimes things seem so off the wall that I start questioning whether or not I know what I am doing. Thanks for the confidence boost.