steam radiators are there alternate to iron

bennythepitbull

steam radiators,  are there alternates to iron? Does it have to be 500 lb heating units?  

bennythepitbull

could i not just use black pipe and "t" it together TTTTTTT

could i not just use black pipe and "t" it together TTTTTTT add a vent

haaljo

Yes, I was looking at steel.

They come in all sizes and shapes. The one I was looking at mounted on the wall.

It's seems to be a European thing but they are radiators and provide radiant heating. Also, kind of pricey.

jpf321

euro rads ... please note

most euro rads are designed for hot-water systems and therefore have small (almost tiny) inlets .. these may suffice in 2-pipe steam, but be careful if you intend on trying them in 1-pipe .. you need a capacious inlet for steam and water to share nicely. 

Rod

Steam Radiators.

Hi- If you're looking for an alternate to cast iron take a look at these. http://www.steamradiators.com/   The benefit of 500 lbs of cast iron is that when you heat it to 200+ degrees and then turn off the burner, it takes a long time for the mass of iron to cool off so you get steady continuing heat in the room it is situated in. Light tubing cools very quickly.

You have to be careful about mixing the two types on the same system as you'll get a large variance in temperature between the rooms the difference types of radiators are situated in.

Could you make a radiator out of tees and black pipe? Yes but It would be pretty inefficient. An efficient radiator has the maximum amount of heat radiating surface area in the minimum amount of space. Take a close look and see how much surface area the 500 lb radiators have, If you tried to duplicate the same amount of surface area with pipe and tees you cover half the wall in a room. On top of that, the tees and piping may not work very well with steam. The "Deadmen" that originally laid out the sections of a cast iron radaitor did a lot of trial and error to get the most optimum internal flow shapes so it is doubtful you could duplicate it with tees and piping.

- Rod

jpf321

just for some perspective .. steamradiators vs ...

according to their specs .. their 6ft x 2ft unit (1" tapping) puts out 10,650btu .. this is equivalent to



14ft of baseboard from governale (http://is.gd/gT92i) tapping: 3/4"

44" x 20" radiant (http://is.gd/gT90Y) by governale - tapping 1-1/4" or

a 2ft x 2ft 6-tube free standing cast iron from governale (http://is.gd/gT979) bottom tapping 1-1/4"



i'm only using governale since they have current/easily accessible specs on various types of rads.



i'd also be wary of the 1" tapping on those steamradiators for 1-pipe steam.

Chris M_2

steel radiators

I replaced a couple of cast irons with steel (from steelradiators.com) soon after I had a new Burnham Megasteam installed, and couldn't be happier.  Easy to install, but were a bit expensive. Still worth it though. 

haaljo

i think you meant steamradiators.com

What type did you get? On the wall? How high up?

The ones I was looking at were very fancy - trying to convince the boss that she would like a radiator in unheated room we have. I like them.

They are expensive! and unless your planning to have it on the wall to for a special reason then why go steel? You have a contractor install a handsome cast iron if your going on the floor. Don't even think about baseboard steam but somoething antique/creative. I always liket that umbrella dyrer.  The steel at website is $1200 for a six footer and you can get nice cast iron sometimes for "free" and then you pay plumber/rigger to bring and install.  BUT It's nice there is an alternative for something up on the wall and is available for one-pipe steam systems.

Chris M_2

Steel Radiators

Yes, I meant steamradiators.com    -They're wall mounted for two reasons.. 1. Their profile is very narrow, so if they were floorstanding, they'd be really easy to knock around by bumping into them.  2. They're light.. (steel vs. cast iron).    I mounted them on the wall, at the same level a conventional cast iron floor radiator would be located. I mounted a 6 footer in the dining room, and a 3 footer in the livingroom, under  a window. Everything you need to know is on the steamradiator.com site.. pictures, colors, mounting instructions, heating capacities, etc.  I pulled the trigger by purchasing the 3 footer, and said to myself, "If this one serves me right, I'll start replacing the others in the house with steel.."   - I'm happy with my decision, and it's been 2 years now with no problems whatsoever. My boiler is a Burnham Megasteam 396, Westchester, NY.