Returning Two Radiators

TomH42

I saw a similar discussion on this today but did not want to hijack a thread.



Back a few years ago, 2 of the 8 radiators in our home were removed when renovating our kitchen. The supply lines (maybe one is a return line to main) to the radiators were capped at the main as indicated in pictures. The silver pipe is slightly smaller than the darker pipe. There is one two pipe radiator in the house now and 5 one pipe radiators which seems a bit odd. Perhaps one radiator that was removed may have been two pipe (silver is return?).



During the renovation the insulation of the home was improved including new windows, insulation blown in the attic and some placed in walls. However, the two spaces where radiators were removed still seem a bit chilly during the winter but certainly can be lived in (one is my son’s second floor 13 X 12 bedroom). The rest of the house has been heating nicely, but will be putting Hoffman 1A’s on the 5 fin-tube radiators on first floor to slow venting (currently done by Hoffman 40’s).



This spring/summer we are interested in installing two radiators back in the rooms they were removed from during renovation. Thanks to the help of many on here, we have determined our gas fueled boiler is currently 27% oversized. We are interested in installing the smallest Steamview radiators they make (16” x24”) and venting them with Hoffman 1A’s. Given the measured output of the radiators, we should remain within capacity of the boiler while assisting to make rooms comfortable and not taking up valuable floor space.



My first question is, could both of these radiators be fed by one supply line off the main? According to the other thread the answer is yes. The first floor room location would require about 10 feet of pipe from the main to potential radiator location on first floor. The second room is a bedroom right above the first floor location. The thought would be to have the smallest insulated riser possible inside the first floor space up against the wall that would feed first floor radiator and then feed second floor radiator. FYI, the piping of the old second floor radiator is buried in the walls of renovated kitchen (I am a slowly recovering knucklehead).



If this is a reasonable set up, could I use either of the existing exits from main or only the larger one?



I have read that Steamview radiators cool down quickly perhaps about the same rate as fin and tube. Is this accurate? Will having 1A's help adjust heat output?



What other concerns need to be considered?



As always thanks to all!!

Jamie Hall

Shouldn't be a problem

the main thing -- as always -- is to check the pipe sizes required (the Lost Art has the tables you need) and make sure that things pitch properly.  I think I'd be inclined to use the larger exit from the main, assuming that the resulting piping is reasonable.  But you probably only need to use one.



On the venting -- the 1A is probably a good place to begin, but that is something which you really can't judge until you get it hooked up and running.

TomH42

Larger Exit it is

Thanks Jamie. We will use the larger exit when the time comes. Pitch in pipe will allow condensate to run back to main.