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Unknown baseboard brand - Btu rule of thumb?

28W
28W Member Posts: 141
in Gas Heating
Copper-tube alum fin baseboard. No idea what brand, but the room it is in is at least 30 years old. Would Btu tables from some of the vintage Slant Fin baseboard be a decent approximation?

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,550
    ???

    What is the height of the base board? If it's 7", then you can assume an honest output of about 500 btu's per lineal foot of element @ 170* average water temp. If it's in reasonably good condition and the fins are clean.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    edited August 2012
    Reply to Ironman

    The website wouldn't let me reply directly to your post . . .



    Anyway, to answer your question, the baseboard housings are 7" tall. The fins inside are 5" tall. Everything is in good shape and clean. Hardwood floor underneath.



    I'm interested in Btu output at below 170 also; is there a conversion factor?
  • R Mannino
    R Mannino Member Posts: 441
    Most Manufacturers

    Post a chart with water temperature versus BTU output. Contrary to popular belief baseboard will still work at lower water temperatures, but at a reduced output.



    http://www.slantfin.com/images/stories/Product-Literature/catalogsheet_fineline30_30_10.pdf
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,858
    Seriously???

    7" tall fin section? Are there 2 pipes or one running through the fins? How many fins per inch? What size of tube going through them?



    Believe it or not, 1/2" shows a higher output than 3/4" at certain temperatures. It has to do with fluid turbulence (Reynolds numbers).



    If it is in fact truly 7" tall fin section, the output is more than 500 per foot.



    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,550
    7" Fin Section

    I've never seen a 7" fin section.



    I was referring to the height of the enclosure. :)
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    As I said above

    the housings are 7" tall.  The fins inside are 5" tall. 
  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    I found a Slant Fin table

    for one of their baseboard models that puts out 500 Btu at 160 degrees.  I'm thinking I'll use that table - it provides output numbers all the way down to 110 degrees.
  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    I found a Slant Fin table

    for one of their baseboard models that puts out 500 Btu at 160 degrees.  I'm thinking I'll use that table - it provides output numbers all the way down to 110 degrees.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,858
    I need a reading comprehension course....;-)

    But still, even at 5" tall fin tube section, I've not seen that in a residential setting. The norm is more like 2.5" tall.



    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    I will measure again

    But it sure looked like 5" on the tape.  They are old units.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,858
    How many pipes going through the fins?

    One or two? If two, the output will be more than the 500 btuH/LF.



    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • 28W
    28W Member Posts: 141
    Pretty sure it is one pipe

    But I will check.  Thanks.
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,550
    Pipe Size?

    What is the tube size in the element?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
This discussion has been closed.

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