bottom to bottom piping question

jublack2000

Hi there,



I have some old rads where the piping for supply and return are at the bottom on the same side. I also have some where the supply and return are at the bottom on opposite sides.



Does it matter which one is used as the supply and which one is used as the return?



If so, how do I tell the difference between the two?



Thanks for your help!



Juliana

Steamhead

Is this

a steam or hot-water system? Post some pictures of the radiators and boiler if you're not sure. 

Rod

Radiator Inlets & Outlets

Hi- If there is a valve on one of the pipes that is generally the supply side. You can also tell by which one gets hotter first when the burner turns on. If you post some pictures it might be of help.

- Rod

jublack2000

photos

Hi guys,



THanks for getting back to me so quickly. Here are some photos. The photos are numbered in order, so the first photo of each set shows the number of the rad, and then a few detail shots from different angles of that rad.



Thanks again for your help!



Juliana

jublack2000

another couple sets

thanks!

Steamhead

Those rads

came out of a hot-water system. Generally, if the pipes were connected at the bottom of both ends, the little bleeder valve is on the return end.

jublack2000

Thanks

Yeh I forgot to mention it is a hot water system.



So for the ones with the pipes on both sides at the bottom... the return is the side with the bleeder valve.



For the ones with the valve at the top on one end and another at the bottom of the other end (we have some like that)... the supply is the top of one end and the return is the bottom of the other end.



What about the ones with the two valves on the bottom of one end? Does it matter which one we use as supply and return for those one?



Thanks again.



Juliana

jublack2000

following up

Hi there,



Can anyone clarify the piping supply and return for the rads that have open valves at the bottom of one side only?



One of the guys doing our boiler work is insisting that it doesn't matter which way the water flows through these old rads.



He's wrong... right?



Would love to hear what you guys here think.



Also, anyone know a couple options for where I can get the wall brackets to mount the wall rads? I'm in Ontario.



Thanks for any help!



Juliana