Computing the EDRs of My House Radiators for a New Oil-fired Steam Boiler

georgede54

First of all, thanks to all of you for all of your help thus far.

Here’s the information I’ve gathered on the upstairs radiators.

I am going to try to post two pictures of each radiator, taken from different angles. At the bottom of each picture’s icon should be the name and at least the height of the radiator (sometimes the depth/width). (The second picture of a radiator will have the number “2” after it, because I cannot use the exact name on two different icons.) At some point in time, thinking that a slightly large boiler is a better idea than a slightly small one, I started to round measurements to the nearest inch.

Below is a list of the name, height, depth (width), number of tubes per section, and number of sections of each upstairs radiator. I have tried to be quite careful, but we all make mistakes and I’m always a little uncertain of the number of tubes per section. If there is any discrepancy between my measurements and the photographs, please go with the photographs.

I’m quite interested to hear anyone’s calculations on each radiator’s EDR and then what the total BTU output needed for the upstairs would be. I’ve done the calculations myself, but it cannot hurt to double check.

Living room radiator – height 26”, depth 7 “, # of tubes/ sections: 2, number of sections: 11

Medium bedroom – height 27”, depth 7”, # of tubes/section: 2, number of sections: 7

Small bedroom – height 38”, depth 9”, # of tubes/section: 3, number of sections: 4

Bathroom – height 38”, depth 9”, # of tubes/ section: 3, number of sections: 2

Large bedroom – height 26”, depth 7”, # of tubes/section: 2, number of sections: 11

Large bedroom closet – height 26”, depth 7”, # of tubes/section 2, # of sections: 3

Kitchen – height – 26”, depth 7”, # of tubes/ section: 4, # of sections: 6

Thanks again.

Steamhead

Those are all column-type rads except the kitchen, which is a large-tube type.

georgede54

That is what I thought. Thanks.

KC_Jones

I came up with a total EDR of 132 based on your pictures and measurements. Those decorative 2 column rads might be a touch higher in EDR than the chart I am using that just shows generic 2 column, but it wouldn't make a significant difference.

That tells me you basically need the smallest steam boiler you can get.

georgede54

Thanks so much for running the numbers! I don't have my calculations in front of me, but I think I came out with something quite similar. I thought I knew what I was doing, but it's comforting to have someone else's opinion.

There is another floor, which is basically identical to the floor we just did, so the radiators are likely to be about the same also. So, I'm guessing the total EDR for both floors will end up about 165.

But, of course, now that I have a pretty good idea of how to compute the EDR, I'm going to run those numbers also.

Thanks again for your help.

Have a Happy Halloween!

georgede54

Here's the information I've gathered on the downstairs radiators.

There should again be two pictures of each radiator, taken from different angles. At the bottom of each picture’s icon should be the name, height, and depth/width of the radiator. (There are 7 radiators downstairs; the second picture of a radiator will have a number after it, because I cannot use the exact name on two different icons.) At some point in time, thinking that a slightly large boiler is a better idea than a slightly small one, I started to round measurements upward to the nearest inch.

Below is a list of the name, height, depth (width), number of tubes per section, and number of sections of each downstairs radiator. I have tried to be quite careful, but we all make mistakes, and I’m always a little uncertain of the number of tubes per section. If there is any discrepancy between my measurements and the photographs, please go with the photographs.

Living room – height 26”; depth 7 “; 2 tubes/section; 11 sections

Medium bedroom – height 39”; depth 9”; 3 tubes/section; 5 sections

Small bedroom – height 39”; depth 9”; 3 tubes/section; 4 sections

Bathroom – height 38”; depth 9”; 3 tubes/ section; 2 sections

Large bedroom – height 26”; depth 7”; 2 tubes/section; 11 sections

Hall – height 26”; depth 7”; 2 tubes/section; 3 sections

Kitchen – height 38”; depth 7”; 2 tubes/ section; 8 sections

After K.C. and I agreed so closely on the EDR for the upstairs radiators, I'm a lot more comfortable with the process of computing the EDR of the radiators than I was before.

But if someone could run the numbers for the downstairs radiators, it would help me have confidence in my calculations.

Thanks,

George

Steamhead

Those are some beauties. Where are you located?

georgede54

I'm in New Rochelle, N.Y. , slightly north of NYC.

georgede54

I've done the calculations to come up with the EDR for my downstairs radiators and I think I'm fairly accurate, but if someone could double-check my work, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.