Concentric radiator

PMart

I own all the Holohan books and have read them and I swear I’ve seen this set up and I can’t find it anywhere. Isn’t that the way of things lol. I’ve got a customer who wants to replace this rad with baseboard. It’s my hope I can convince them otherwise. What can you tell me about this set up to help my research efforts as to wether or not this is a good idea. I have not been on site yet. This is customer pictures. Tia!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Steam or water?

mattmia2

It looks like it is hot water and something similar to the Unique valve.

PMart

I won’t know until I get on site tomorrow. They just bought the house and they don’t know what they got yet. If the radiator valve is the correct valve then I’m guessing hydronic 

mattmia2

If you replace it with some other type of emitter you have to be careful that you can balance it with the rest of the system. That ci radiator will heat and cool very slowly. a convector or fin tube would really need to be on a separate zone. you could possibly make ci baseboard work.

PMart

Mattmia2, those were my concerns and why I thought to reach out to this knowledge base, Incase one of you guys have come across this and had to switch it up. 

mattmia2

I don't think the being fed from one end is an issue unless that is some sort of weird steam valve (but I think it is probably hot water). You can always sneak a return behind or under its replacement or use a valve with a lance. The bigger issue is being able to balance it with the rest of the system.