Hot water baseboard installation

Halbert

The house was built in 2 sections, one in the 1930's, with an addition in the 80's. I've lived in it for 3 years. Hot water baseboard heat. The way the baseboards are installed, there is a (I think) 3/4 inch header running around the basement walls, and the heater units are connected by tee's to the header, rather than the header turning up to the heaters and back down.

Why? The only logical reason I have would be to have warmer water feeding the last heater in the circuit--but it has the downside of less available flow to the heater units.

Is there any advantage to be gained by repiping the system to put all the heaters on a continuous line rather than off this header? (I think so, but I'm no expert).

GGross

it sounds like you have a monoflow system, it should be just fine, and if there are valves of some kind hidden by each baseboard branch it gives the benefit of being able to close off a single baseboard section if need be. Series loop (where your header flows through each section of baseboard) is more common now, mainly just because its cheaper to install

EdTheHeaterMan

You may find this booklet interesting. http://media.blueridgecompany.com/documents/ZoningMadeEasy.pdf
the Mono-Flo system is explained starting on page 21. Just after explaining why non electric zone valves don't work very well on this type system. (the generic term for those tee fittings is "Diverter Tee". Bell and Gossett trademarked that name "Mono-Flo"

If you have a 3/4" main loop around the entire basement, then the takeoff to each radiator loop would be 1/2". If you have a 1" or 1-1/4" loop around the basement then the takeoff to each baseboard might be 3/4".

I'm thinking the system is operating properly since 1930s, so I agree with @GGross on the old system. The addition should be on its own loop not connected with the old section. You don't want to mess with the different pressure drop issues by trying to combine the new with the old.

Me. Ed

EBEBRATT-Ed

as @GGross said it is probably a Monoflo system. Check the tees if you can see them, the Monoflo tees will look different.

Monoflo systems work fine. I had one in a house i owned for 35 years.

When you drain the system, they can be difficult to bleed

Halbert

ED: yes, there are two loops on the first floor, with a single tstat and zone valve. There are two 2nd floor rooms, each with it's own tstat and zone valve. There are bleed valves on each baseboard but no other valves I can find.

mattmia2

It sounds like it maybe was monoflow with standing cast iron radiators that were replaced with baseboard during the remodel. Monoflow was really common mid century but fin tube baseboard was not yet all that common.(is your baseboard fin tube or cast iron?)

The monoflow probably provides a little better balance and potentially can be balanced with balancing valves although that is tricky. The water cooling through a series loop makes the engineering for that topology more important if you want to to heat evenly.

Halbert

I looked more closely, and yes, there are monoflo fittings at the connections. Thanks for the insight.