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converting from steam to hot water

moores
moores Member Posts: 4
in Strictly Steam
I have been advised by one heating contractor to convert from my steam system to hot water, while two others are concerned because of several problems with this conversion. The tax credits and rebates make the two jobs very close in cost. I have many reservations in doing the conversion as I feel if it was set up for steam it should be completely redone for hot water and the contractor is planning on using the existing two pipe system and the same radiators. Are my concerns warranted and should I just replace the steam boiler?

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,380
    These conversions

    are a can of worms. Stick with the steam.







    Are you going to go with oil or gas?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • moores
    moores Member Posts: 4
    converting

    gas
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,855
    Steamhead's

    absolutely right -- and in this situation, with the two possibilities being close in cost, you have no reason at all to even think about converting.  Don't do it.  The two guys you have with concerns are completely right!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,380
    The two most efficient gas-fired residential steamers

    are the Smith G-8 series and the Slant/Fin Intrepid series. These are wet-base boilers normally sold as oil-fired units, but their manufacturers have approved them for use with power gas burners. In this configuration they offer 6-7% better thermal efficiency than the typical atmospheric gas steamer. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
    edited October 2010
    Stick with Steam.

    Hi - I'm a homeowner and was almost pushed to switching over a few years back and am now very glad I didn't.

    There are a lot of things you can do to upgrade a two pipe steam system and make it very comfortable and efficient.  Putting pressurized water in a steam radiator used to very low pressure (under 2 PSI) isn't a very good idea. A small steam leak isn't noticed. Any water leak causes a puddle.

    Where are you located ? There are a lot of good steam pros on here and perhaps there is one close to you that could help.

    - Rod
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