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Steam radiator kills room layout

tabasco
tabasco Member Posts: 7
in Strictly Steam
I have one room in which the steam radiator is smack in the middle of the only large wall. This means that a queen bed has to kind of float in the middle of the room since otherwise it blocks the closet door and room door. Is there any way to remove the radiator from that one room and replace it with a baseboard unit? Any other creative solutions?

Comments

  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    I'm assuming it's on an outside wall, against which you want to place the bed? How big is the radiator (EDR) and how long?
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    yes, outside wall, don't know the EDR, length is about 3 ft.
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Is there room for two smaller radiators, one on either side of the bed?
    Fred
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    yes though i would be fine with just one smaller radiator moved down two feet since the large one that is there does not really work. Wouldn't moving the radiator be expensive though in terms of plumbing, repairing wood floor, etc?
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,495
    Does the radiator not heat well, does it bang when steam comes into it? Is there a finished ceiling on the floor below?

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    The radiator does not heat well. It does not bang. There is a finished plaster ceiling on the floor below.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,317
    Take a picture of the radiator and where it is in the room, and post it here- let's have a look.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,495
    If it's not heating well there might be a problem with the venting. Assuming this is a single pipe steam system, what kinds of vents do you have on the radiators and what is the venting like on the steam main?

    A cast iron baseboard could be used but they have to be installed right to work properly, putting it behind a bed would limit it's heat output significantly.

    All of this will take a good steam man to implement.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    SWEI
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    how do i figure out what kind of vents i have or what the venting is like on the steam main? This is the only radiator in the house that doesn't heat. The rest are fine (though some do have leaky rusted valves that i will replace when I can). I've gotten used to a cold room so a baseboard behind a bed would probably be sufficient as long as it would be safe to have a baseboard on the same system as the radiators in the house that would work for me.
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,495
    With a single pipe steam system it's a matter of balance. You have to vent the steam mains fast and the radiators slowly so they all get hot at about the same time. You want to get that radiator working right before thinking about changing things.

    Once everything comes up at about the same tome you can start to look at different heat emitters. Tell us what kind of air vents you have on the radiators and what kinf air vent you have on the steam mains(s). If you don't know what they are post some picturs of them.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    i don't know what a steam main is. I can post a picture of the radiator though
  • tabasco
    tabasco Member Posts: 7
    image or this? image
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,317
    Can you take a pic from further back, showing the entire wall where the radiator is as well as how the bed relates to it?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

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