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Heating below the water line

Hey team,
I’m looking to put a radiator below the water line. I know there’s a way just forget the specifics. Any diagrams would be awesome. I read over lost art but didn’t find anything. Also not sure if it’s specific to 1 or 2 pipe systems
Thanks in advance

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    Either one pipe or two pipe. If the whole show is below the water line, it's dead easy -- provided you can get at least one opening into the boiler below, but not too far below, the water line There's usually a tap which will work. Pipe into that, go down to the floor, put on a small circulator -- won't need much -- run over to your radiator, take the radiator outlet and run back to some useful spot like a wet return.

    Done

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • McSteamer22
    McSteamer22 Member Posts: 23
    Hey Jamie, I didn’t even think about doing it hydronicly,
    I thought there was a way using the steam, some configuration of a check valve and f and t trap
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    Below the boiler water line, it needs to be a hot water loop.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159

    Hey Jamie, I didn’t even think about doing it hydronicly,
    I thought there was a way using the steam, some configuration of a check valve and f and t trap

    Actually, there is. It's a lot more complicated. It requires a certain minimum steam pressure. It requires a check valve and an F&T. And it's a pain in the neck. Do it the easy way. Besides, you can control the circulator with it's own thermostat -- giving you control of just that zone.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    Or it could be done using a condensate pump. But as @Fred & @Jamie Hall pointed out hydronic is the way to go.

    The book you need is "How Come" a @DanHolohan
  • McSteamer22
    McSteamer22 Member Posts: 23
    Jamie Jamie Jamie, no style points or creativity for just slapping in an ole circulator.
    We are masters at manipulating the vapor,
    I don’t have a specific application but I want to learn.
    I’ll take any crumbs you have on the matter,
    I have the lost art revisited (bible) and it doesn’t mention.
    From one nutmegger to another
    Thanks
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,583
    edited June 2019
    > @McSteamer22 said:
    We are masters at manipulating the vapor

    Then why do you need help?
    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
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,416
    First, as “masters”, we need to understand that steam is hydronic!..what you’re referring to is a condensate hot water heating zone :wink:
    ChrisJ
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    Nope. No style points. I'm lazy, and I look for easiest and simplest way to do the job... sorry!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    ChrisJethicalpaul
  • The Steam Whisperer
    The Steam Whisperer Member Posts: 1,215
    For one pipe steam you can take the end of the steam main ( dry return) and drop down below the water line, run into your radiator and then out the radiator and continue running below the water line to the boiler return. It will probably work better if you supply the radiator at the top and the return from the bottom. Both bottom tappings together should work too. Both top tappings probably won't work as the hot water will travel across the top of the radiator and not fully heat the radiator. You'll want a large steam main if you can so you'll get more condensate flow. We've done some this way and they work quite nicely. This probably would be an effective way to use a condensing steam boiler with one pipe steam, since the condensate will return quite cool. As an alternative, just install a piece of fin tube in place of the return line and provide some sort of housing to create convective air currents.
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
    McSteamer22