Adding a steam radiator in the basement?

DaveP

Hey guys.. we have a steam heating system that is located in the basement. The basement is finished, but in the winter it gets pretty cold because there are no radiators down there. Does anyone have any suggestions or other solutions to somehow adding a steam based radiator down in the basement? Are there any types that can be mounted on the ceiling so the condensed steam can still use gravity to flow back to the boiler? What other alternatives do we have other than using those electric, money draining heaters?

Jamie Hall

Shouldn't be a problem

but there are several points to watch.  First off, the puppies are heavy.  Make sure you have something solid to secure it to!  Second, make sure that you find one which will drain properly.  That's really important.  Third, it must be mounted above the water level of the boiler (sounds obvious, but...).  You could either hang a specialized one (which will drain) more or less horizontally from the ceiling or, if there is enough height, you could mount one or more high on the walls.  If you do the latter, the chances are that the steam line to it will drop below the main.  If it does, you must use a drip at the end of that main down to a wet return.

Steamhead

You could also

run a hot-water loop of the bottom of the boiler. This would let you control the basement separately from the rest of the house.