Is a converted steam system ok?

TeachMeSteam

Hello, everyone. I hope everyone is having a great day.



I got a question for people who have experience with converted steam systems.



I am looking at a small home to purchase which has a steam system which has been converted to hot water. They did this because the house used to be a 1 story and then 40 years ago, they added a 2nd floor. So, the bottom floor has the old steam radiators and the 2nd floor has the baseboard radiators.



I've read a lot of the threads on this board about this and it seems like the views have been mixed on whether this is a good idea.



But, what should I be looking for? For example, is there any way to test that the bottom floors are getting enough heat because the steam radiators wouldn't be able to radiate enough heat from the smaller radiators? Anything else I should be worried about?

Steamhead

It's a can of worms

but are you sure the old rads weren't originally gravity hot-water? Did you take any pics? 

TeachMeSteam

I guess that means you think it's a bad idea

So, you think it's likely that the heating system will not work that well?



You are scaring me.

Steamhead

Many don't

but again, are you certain the original system was steam and not gravity hot-water? 

TeachMeSteam

Probably steam

I'm going to go back later to check but pretty sure it was steam.

Steamhead

Take pics

and look for leaks in the old piping and rads.