steam radiators

Paul_69

can you use old steam radiators when converting to hot water system,without leaks, muck and problems

kcopp

it depends....

If the steam radiator is connected through the top then yes. The problems w/ junk.... well you need to hose them out and clean out as much a possible. Also some good cleaner in the system would be a good thing...like Fernox or Rhomar. Lastly it depends on the boiler. If it a new modcon then that may be a problem if a piece of slag gets wedged in the HX.. a cast iron sectional then you are prob. fine.

The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

Why convert...

and invite leaks and freeze ups?  Stick with your steam and keep your overall utility costs about the same.  Remember, hot water heat needs electricty to make it go, steam uses almost none, so the utililtysavings are not as great as you might imagine.  This is particularly the case if you modernize the steam steam system with a modulating or stage fired steam boiler, proper venting, or vacuum operation.

Jamie Hall

It also depends

on pressure.  Steam runs on a pound or two, and it is quite possible -- indeed rather common -- that a joint which was OK at that pressure will give up and leak at hot water heating pressures, which are much higher.



The other thing to watch is heat output -- the heat output on hot water will be much less than it was on steam (the formula for the ratio is (hot water temp - room temp)/(212 - room temp)).  As an example -- if you run the hot water boiler at 142, and the room temp is 72, the ratio is 70/140, or just half the heat output.