Build your own rad?

Scot B

I did a quick search but found no compatible results, so I'm asking for some assistance.  I have a small room that I would like to put a rad in for a one pipe steam system, however all existing rads are to big.  The room has deep door mouldings and a pipe radiator would work perfect. It's a utlility room so looks are not a concern. Is there a resource to guide me in building a pipe rad in regards to pipe diameter, height, pitch, venting requirements and fitting specs?  Has any one built one?

The room is 4x8 with 10 foot ceiling. One 32x72 inch window with two outside walls. Well insulated.  Why? I want it warmer in that room and I wanna play with the system.  I'm curious. Plus it would look cool!

Thanks for any help!

nicholas bonham-carter

pipe radiator

i made a vertical pipe radiator from 1 in pipe on top of a full port 1 in. ball valve. i put the air vent at the top using various fittings, which kept the vent vertical. if i were to do it again, i would use a larger diameter pipe with a smaller one inside, to give more thermal mass. you could try various diameters and see which sizes fit inside another.

maybe 2 vertical pipes, joined at the top, and bottom, would give better results.--nbc

Scot B

smaller inside larger?

Would the inner pipe be attached or threaded somehow or just sit loose inside? Would probably have to cut notches in end of inner pipe to allow condensate and steam to pass around and through it.

If joining pipes at bottom and top, do they make a left and right handed threaded fitting to avoid a union?

nicholas bonham-carter

pipe rad

i was thinking of the inner pipe being loose, and a union would be required for a double pipe, joined at the top and bottom.

just go down to the hardware store, and see how the different diameters fit inside one another. some wire would also work to increase the mass.--nbc

Jamie Hall

And you can estimate

the amount of pipe you need -- figure the heat loss of the room, and remembering the 240 BTU per square foot -- EDR -- rule, just divide the heat loss by 240 and there's your area.  The area of the pipe, of course, is the length (in feet) times pi (3.14) times the diameter -- converted to feet, and the real outside diameter!



Need more length?  Double it back on itself... or triple... or whatever.  Just remember that the condensate needs to drain out, and the vent needs to allow all the air out!

crash2009

Pipe Coil

Sounds like what you are looking for is something called a "pipe coil"  There is some info up in the library here.  Here is a flyer to get you started.  http://www.heatinghelp.com/files/articles/1258/498.pdf  see page 6

gerry gill

first find the heat loss in btu/hr

then pick a pipe coil size (diameter) and consult the chart thats in the library here that gives heat output in btu per linear feet of pipe, and build your coil. Think like steam, and imagine your the condensate, can you drain out okay? Be best to pipe it two pipe fashion. Study up on pipe coils as they come in different designs, any of which may fit your application. Hope that helps.

Scot B

Awesome!

Thanks for your help! Still the best site on the internet!

crash2009

BTU calculator for horizontal pipe

Scot, after you do the heatloss for the room, this calculator might be able to tell you how many lineal feet of pipe you will need.  Would be interesting to know if the charts up in the library match a computer calculator.  http://wbdg.org/design/midg_design_echp.php