Hot water with a single pipe

SBoston

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.

BobC

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

Jean-David Beyer

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

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.

Charlie from wmass

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.