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Hot water with a single pipe

SBoston
SBoston Member Posts: 61
Is it possible to convert a single pipe steam to a hot water system using the same single pipe design? I thought i read somewhere that this is possible with a some type of valve.

Comments

  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,501
    Single pipe steam to FHW

    I can't see how to convert a radiator to hot water without a second pipe so you could get water to flow through it and return to the boiler to be reheated. If it was a single floor house you might be able to run a second pipe but would an old radiator survive the surgery? And then you have the old question of a system that ran on 2psi for decades would react to the much higher pressure and weight of water.



    I don't think I'd do it if I wasn't ready to replace everything - boiler and radiators with new piping all around.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Jean-David Beyer
    Jean-David Beyer Member Posts: 2,666
    It just might work, but

    If the pipes are very large and routed correctly for this, it just might work, but poorly. You would need quite hot water, I imagine. You would rely on the convection to allow the hot water to go up the center of the pipe, and let the cold water come out the side. To prevent this in normal systems, it is sometimes necessary to put Flow-Check valves in the return line as well as the supply line.



    I am not a professional, but I would seriously recommend against trying this unless the cost of ripping it out when you are dissatisfied is not important to you.
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,371
    Not one pipe but two pipes in the same fitting

    http://www.hydronicalternatives.com/Steam-to-hot-water-conversion-valve.pdf Here is the link. The radiator still needs to have a properly place coin vent.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,371
    also note

    I still do not recommend doing this as you are increasing the pressure on this radiator at least 10 times what it has seen for the last 60 to 100 years.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
This discussion has been closed.