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pipechange

lookup
lookup Member Posts: 1
I need to reduce the size of the existing 2" iron pipe heat mains in a basement to 1".

What are the effects of doing this?

Comments

  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
    Sizing a Pipe

    Hi- What sort of system, Steam or Hot Water, is this and what part of the system is the pipe located?
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,396
    Rod's question

    is more than relevant -- it's critical. 



    If this is a steam system, it is unlikely (to say the least) that you can do it at all. 



    If this is hot water, you may or may not be able to, depending on -- as he says -- where in the system you are doing this.  What will happen is that the head loss in the pipes will increase -- by a factor of roughly four.  Depending on exactly how the system is piped, this could result in a loss of circulation in some of the loops.  In any event, you'll want to recheckt the pumps and flow rates.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Square Pipes:

    I was taught, "Pipes increase as do their squares" That means it takes 4-1" pipes to equal the capacity of a 2" pipe.

    Whomever installed the 2" pipe in the first place would have gladly used 1" pipe if he could. 2" pipe is a lot harder to thread than 1.
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