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A different looking steam heat room register

Hello
Hello Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
<span style="font-size:16pt">Dear Friends:  Found in a house built 1940/50's.  Approx 36" wide by 40" high.  Flush to the wall.  Never seen these kinds of radiators anywhere else.  In the living room there were FIVE of them...distracting, indeed!  And, not something which would be hidden by furniture.  </span>

<span style="font-size:16pt">Has anyone seen these before?  Manufacturer?  </span>

<span style="font-size:16pt">We are R.E appraisers and have been in literally 1000's of houses...seen 'it' all...but never these.  The boiler is in the basement...and everything about it and leading to it is conventionally what we have seen.  But, these radiators...flush...and paintable to match the walls...are incredibly distracting to the room...because of their number in each room.  Can furniture be put close up to them...a bookcase?  Any info would be appreciated! </span>

Comments

  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
    Steam or Hot Water?

    Just to check- You're sure this radiator is Steam heated and not Hot Water heated? 



    The same boiler can be used for Steam or Hot Water. One of the ways to tell if it is setup for steam, is whether it has a Water Level Sight Glass. (See attached picture)

    No Sight Glass on the boiler then it is setup for Hot Water

    - Rod
  • Brad White
    Brad White Member Posts: 2,399
    edited October 2010
    Looks to be a garden-variety

    convector which are still available in steam or water configurations. The elements can be aluminum fins on copper tubes or the best of the type, cast iron elements. Ahhh.



    Yours being fully recessed, there is probably minimal insulation behind them. What I have seen is a panel of asbestos fiber with a canvas or foil wrap on them. Sometimes, not always. (This may also be the only insulation in the house for that matter, given the vintage.)



    When viewed from the exterior with an infra-red camera, these convectors, which have so little between them and the outside, glow like embers.



    As for furniture placement, leave at least a couple of inches away for the exiting air to rise, and make sure the toe-space is open. Air in = Air out.
    "If you do not know the answer, say, "I do not know the answer", and you will be correct!"



    -Ernie White, my Dad
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