converting one pipe steam with fin convectors to 2 pipe water

plantain

Hi,
My daughter has an old chevron oil steam one pipe burner/boiler in a one story salt box type house...

The radiators upstairs have squared metal covers over a copper/aluminum fin type almost baseboard design convector which actually has capped connector for two pipe connection.

My question is can I use a peerless wbv -03 hot water boiler as long as the correct vents are used and there are no leaks?

The house is tiny and has 5 of these pseudo radiators and one old cast iron in the bedroom with unfinished basement so pipes are right there.

The fin type convector don't look too bad as far as getting the caps off the other end.


thanks

Steve

KC_Jones

You might want to put this into the steam section, you will probably get more/better input since this is a steam related question.

Steamhead

I wouldn't. That system is, or should be, running at less than a pound. Hot-water would run at 12 pounds minimum, so any weak point would leak.

Also, the existing convectors may not be big enough to properly heat the house on hot-water.

Then you'd have to run a whole lot of return piping. It's not worth it.

As for boilers, if you're staying with oil I'd go with a Burnham MegaSteam or its twin, the Crown Freeport FSZ. Their three-pass design means better efficiency and longer life.

plantain

other than gas, any thoughts as to an economical alternative to oil ?

Jamie Hall

kindly see my remarks on the other thread... as to fuels, gas is, at the moment, cheaper than oil. LP is right up there with oil -- not recommended. And electricity is a very very expensive way to heat a house...