Steam system, possible use of wet return for radiant heating

GeneS

I am totally new with home ownership and have an idea how the steam system works, but don't know the ins and outs, so forgive me for stupid question.

The return rusted through and I just had a bypass done with copper, as I started to rip up the sleeper floor to clean out the possible termite issue as well as make a path for the bypass, a thought came to my mind.

Why cant the return be used for radiant heat on the basement floor. Possibly run pex and have return coming back to the boiler and meanwhile function as a heat source for the level.

I understand that its possibly necessary to install some pumps to cycle the water through, but I am sure its not overly expensive.

This also could serve for stepping stone as I am hoping to be upgrading the current steam system to hot water with some radiant zones once I am financially ready as well as ready for more renovations upstairs.



Any thoughts?

Thank you!

JStar

Heat

Don't get rid of the steam. You'll regret it.



You can tie a circulated hot water loop off of the steam boiler to serve a small zone such as the basement.

nicholas bonham-carter

using waste heat from return

while there is some waste heat which could be used, there is also a lot of rusty mud in the returns, so that some sort of a cleanable trap would be necessary, or else your pex would be plugged up quickly.--NBC

ChrisJ

I agree

I agree with Jstar.

In fact I've already told the wife if we ever move the house we move to must have steam.

After learning steam and living with it I refuse to settle for anything less including hot water.  Steam heats ONLY downfall is the lack of people that understand it.

Jamie Hall

While the condensate return

may or may not be slightly warm, there is very little available heat in it -- first place, temperature is too low, and second place there simply isn't enough of it.



JStar's advice is right on (he happens to be one of the best around) -- keep the steam heat, and run a hot water loop off the boiler (they're built for it) to handle a radiant heat zone for the basement, if you like.  You'll need a circulating pump, and probably some valving -- a mixing valve -- to control the temperature of the circulating water in the basement zone.  There are various ways to do this...