Replacing original oil steam boiler, looking for tips

Steamhead

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 .

Eastman

Whether it's 4.5 or 7 inches, one would be hooking up a 70MBH input boiler for 700 square feet.

Steamhead

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.

drawkcab

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.

drawkcab

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

Steam is going to short cycle and build pressure.

Danny Scully

Not if he chooses the right boiler @EBEBRATT-Ed

ChrisJ

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 +-.

Bob Bona_4

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

ChrisJ

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.

Bob Bona_4

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.

SWEI

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.

drawkcab

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

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

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