Neglected, frozen, and forgotten. "Can you fix this?"

nicknazak

Hello there. I have a customer who has recently purchased a 8000 sq foot home in a very historic Detroit neighborhood. The house was purchased in an auction, after being neglected, and frozen. We have been tasked with repairing any broken lines, of which there will be many, and replacing the old cast iron radiators that have been damaged due to neglect, and lack of proper (if any) winterization.
We will be installing a new boiler and repairing any hydronic piping that doesn't pass the pressure test. The owner is requesting that we remove the cracked cast iron radiators, and replace these sections with fin tube (or some other creative solution). There are many radiation points in the home where the owner is requesting we just " cap it off". I have repeatedly been told that I "will not be liable for heat at the final radiation points".
I have many concerns with this....
It is my understanding that I will not get the same amount of radiation from a (4') section of fin tube that I would receive from a (4') long section of radiator. I certainly don't want the customer to go through all of this only to end up with a poorly heated house. It seems to me that the cost of radiator replacement is preventing the owner from replacing the damaged radiators with new cast iron replacement radiators.
Enter here creative minds. Would it be considered sacrilegious, crazy talk, to build (sigh) a radiator out of fin tubing? I'm thinking of using fin tubing and diverters tees. I am limited on space in certain areas due to existing piping penetrations, book cases, ornate trim work, etc...
What other options am I not considering? Your help is very appreciated.

Nick

JeffM

How about using modern panel radiators?

hot_rod

Best to start with a detailed, room by room heat load calc. Without a load calc you will not be able to select replacement radiation, whatever the type, for the rooms.

Panel radiators might be a better "look" if cast iron radiators are out of the question. If so a homerun piping system may be the easiest to install and offer room by room temperature control with TRVs added. You can snake 3/8 or 1/2 pex most anywhere in old buildings.

4Johnpipe

Do not let the homeowner dictate to you what needs to be done. Perform a room by room heat loss (for a fee) and let them know what is needed. Panel radiators work awesome! You can also get new radiators. There may be some right in this site...