This wouldn't have happened with Steam Heat, would it now!

JUGHNE

It was cold in Omaha sometime recently, cousin in the trades sent me these pictures:

Fred

Probably now gives someone a reason to install Hot Air. But that's ok. It was just HW.

Gordy

Oh stop it. If the heating system froze what about the domestic water? Hmmmm.

JUGHNE

Don't know, will call tomorrow. Maybe it was "winterized". Oh wait....maybe they thought it was forced air.

Steamhead

This was a Vapor system that someone converted to hot water. Now you see one reason why these conversions are a real bad idea.

Gordy

Any opinions on why that particular part of the radiator blew?

JUGHNE

Would the end sections be the weakest part of the sandwich?

So repairman could just make the rad one section shorter? Just a couple of "10 minute" jobs.

Note: No, my wrong. Needs the threading ports of the end sections. M man may be off the hook on repairs and search for new/old rads.

Abracadabra

Gordy said:

Any opinions on why that particular part of the radiator blew?

Do you mean why the top blew instead of the bottom or middle? If so, then I'd say that water freezes from the top down. Water in the top of the radiator would freeze before the rest of the water in the radiator.

ChrisJ

Don't worry, a modcon will save enough fuel to pay for all of those materials and labor.

Since we're flinging mud here, technically water freezes at a lower temperature @ 40 PSI than it does at 15 PSI so there's a chance the domestic water wouldn't have frozen.

And besides, just because domestic freezes, they should have to pay to rebuild the heating system as well? What kind of logic is that!?!?


So, steam still wins.

Steamhead

And, stupid still loses.

JUGHNE

House was a real nice ($) 3 story in the older upper class part town.

The story is that all 3 floors were flooded. House was vacant and about to go on the market. It was checked every day by agent fm RE company. Don't know about other piping but sounds as if it could be bad.

Gordy

ChrisJ said:

Don't worry, a modcon will save enough fuel to pay for all of those materials and labor.

Since we're flinging mud here, technically water freezes at a lower temperature @ 40 PSI than it does at 15 PSI so there's a chance the domestic water wouldn't have frozen.

And besides, just because domestic freezes, they should have to pay to rebuild the heating system as well? What kind of logic is that!?!?


So, steam still wins.

Wins what? By your logic forced air beats steam in this scenario. Unless the boiler is drained.

Fred

JUGHNE said:

House was a real nice ($) 3 story in the older upper class part town.

The story is that all 3 floors were flooded. House was vacant and about to go on the market. It was checked every day by agent fm RE company. Don't know about other piping but sounds as if it could be bad.

All kidding aside, this is a sad situation. Not only is the heating system/plumbing ruined but it also sounds like a beautiful piece of architectural history is at risk. at a minimum, it will likely never be the same. Floors, ceilings, walls, etc.

Jamie Hall

"It was checked every day"... uh. Right. I've seen places freeze, but unless it's really truly cold out -- like 0 -- and the house started out cold -- like maybe 40 -- not that fast. Sorry about that. As Fred said, though, this is likely to be close to a total loss. I don't think the insurance company -- if it was insured -- is going to be real happy, somehow.

sunlight33

Super glue, anyone?