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Replacing original oil steam boiler, looking for tips

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  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,868
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    IIRC, on that type of radiator the top tapping is 1" or maybe 1-1/4". So the boss would be something like 1-3/4" or maybe 2".

    But we'll wait for @drawkcab .
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    Whether it's 4.5 or 7 inches, one would be hooking up a 70MBH input boiler for 700 square feet.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,868
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    Some of that is going to rise into the second floor. The extra boiler capacity can be used for new radiation up there.

    And a steam system is much less likely to freeze in an extended power failure.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • drawkcab
    drawkcab Member Posts: 13
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    Hatterasguy said:

    The photo of the radiator would surely indicate that it is not 4.5" width, which is the slenderized rad.

    The rad certainly appears to be close to 7" width, which is the standard for the tube type radiator.

    Furthermore, the total EDR of 125 square feet is a bit ridiculous.

    Maybe the OP can measure the width of the rad and confirm.

    Is this the measurement you're asking me to confirm? All the radiators are this size.


    ChrisJ
  • drawkcab
    drawkcab Member Posts: 13
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    Eastman said:

    @drawkcab
    What does radiant mean to you? What would you replace the rads with?

    I incorrectly wrote radiant heat in my earlier post. I meant forced hot water. To me, radiant heat means under the floor or perhaps in the wall but that type/style was not what I was interested in converting to.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,573
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    Steam is going to short cycle and build pressure.
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,426
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    Not if he chooses the right boiler @EBEBRATT-Ed
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,731
    edited December 2016
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    Smallest Burnham IN is 51,000 output.

    With 28,000 btu/h worth of radiation and a 20% pickup that gives you 34,000 input needed. Even using a big 33% pickup you only need 37,000. A huge, 50% pickup gives 42,000.


    I don't think I'd be happy with any of the steam boilers available. It will short cycle in my opinion.

    If one of them was downfired via removing a burner tube or reducing manifold pressure by someone with a combustion analyzer and training on doing such, it may run beautifully. But in stock configuration the boilers are all way too big. You need to drop 15,000 btu/h +-.



    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • Bob Bona_4
    Bob Bona_4 Member Posts: 2,083
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    We need to listen to the h.o. objectives more closely. Fact is, here, they find rads are a nuisance.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,731
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    Bob Bona said:

    We need to listen to the h.o. objectives more closely. Fact is, here, they find rads are a nuisance.

    They will find baseboards to be a bigger nuisance because you still need to keep furniture and such away to allow good airflow and there will be more baseboard.
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
    HatterasguyBob Bona_4
  • Bob Bona_4
    Bob Bona_4 Member Posts: 2,083
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    The furniture can be closer to the walls where there's a conflict, and other lower profile heat emitter types can be chosen and installed in harmony with the decor.
    ChrisJ
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
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    If you do decide to change them all out, do yourself a favor and stay away from conventional fin-tube. If you absolutely have to have low profile, choose something with a decent radiant output like Runtal UF or Myson Contractor Series.

    Personally, I'd keep the steam.
    Danny Scully
  • drawkcab
    drawkcab Member Posts: 13
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    MilanD said:

    @drawkcab



    To HO/ OP: Calculating rad EDR:

    https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.columbiaheatingsupply.com/page_images/Sizing%20Cast%20Iron%20Radiator%20Heating%20Capacity%20Guide.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwj21ubPn43RAhXly4MKHVL5DHUQFggiMAI&sig2=hgaaa0kWgZzfmochvnSeJA&usg=AFQjCNH-O16J9nhiTowXFw4OUGDL2WK7MA

    So based on this guide...do these numbers make sense?

    4 tube @ 22" = 4.00
    Number of Sections:
    12 * 4.0 = 48 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 11,520
    16 * 4.0 = 64 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 15,360
    8 * 4.0 = 32 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 7,680
    16 * 4.0 = 64 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 15,360
    26 * 4.0 = 104 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 24,960
    Sum radiation heating demand: 74,880 BTUs
  • drawkcab
    drawkcab Member Posts: 13
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    MilanD said:

    @drawkcab



    To HO/ OP: Calculating rad EDR:

    https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.columbiaheatingsupply.com/page_images/Sizing%20Cast%20Iron%20Radiator%20Heating%20Capacity%20Guide.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwj21ubPn43RAhXly4MKHVL5DHUQFggiMAI&sig2=hgaaa0kWgZzfmochvnSeJA&usg=AFQjCNH-O16J9nhiTowXFw4OUGDL2WK7MA

    So based on this guide...do these numbers make sense?

    4 tube @ 22" = 4.00
    Number of Sections:
    12 * 4.0 = 48 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 11,520
    16 * 4.0 = 64 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 15,360
    8 * 4.0 = 32 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 7,680
    16 * 4.0 = 64 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 15,360
    26 * 4.0 = 104 sqft EDR * 240 BTU = 24,960
    Sum radiation heating demand: 74,880 BTUs
  • RomanGK_26986764589
    RomanGK_26986764589 Member Posts: 229
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    There was a recent install of a small steam boiler for the townhome with 125 sq feet of EDR. http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/159671/repiping-a-small-columbia-steamer#latest

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