square feet

Paul S

hey everyone im replacing a gas fired steam boiler with a condensate loop for basement....i will be taking out a 100,000 btu boiler (267 sq ft)....i measured all radiation only five rads in whole house ....it came out to 98 sq ft.....heat loss of basement is 16,000 btus....smallest boiler i can get right now is 65,000 btu....question is do i figure in a pick up factor of 33% on this job???....no insulation on steam mains and i will not be adding insulation....do not want to get a boiler too small thanks PAUL S

Jamie Hall

And why

will you not be adding insulation to your steam mains?  Mains are not intended to heat a space; they are intended to get the steam to where it is needed.  Not insulating them will just decrease the efficiency of your system.

Paul S

no money

the customer is on a very low budget....want to know if i should use a pick up factor of 33% thanks PAUL S

nicholas bonham-carter

Saving the customer some money

Is this a 1-pipe or 2-pipe system?

Just make your choice of boiler by the square ft rating on the boiler as it already has the pickup factor in it.

As you will have saved him quite a bit of money by choosing the correct size, at least tell him to insulate it himself using fiberglass batts as a temporary expedient.

Don't let him also try to save money by not having enough main (not rad) venting, or he will use more gas to force the air out of constipated little openings--NBC

Paul S

its one pipe

steam system....im taking out a 100,000 btu boiler....it says 267 sq ft on the name plate....ill be putting in a 69,000 btu which can do 175 sq ft....home has 5 rads equal up to 98 sq ft ....and will be installing basement hot water condensate zone... PAUL S...