Safety and efficiency questions

sunnysideheat

Would it be safe and more efficient to have a cast iron steam radiator 8 inches away from each side of a wood stove (350 lbs metal stone and 1650 pounds soapstone exterior) Goals would be for wood stove to gain heat from the 2 cast iron radiators and radiate it to room when wood stove is not burning. 2nd goal would be for wood stove when burning to heat up the 2 cast iron steam radiators and that heat gain would make the entire cast iron steam radiator system more efficient. System has an electric boiler and propane boiler in random and a 100 gallon water heat exchanger. New home construction extra insulation. Garage on first floor, 2nd floor with wood stove and 3rd foot bedroom. Each level is only 800 square feet with only 1,600 square feet of living space. Thanks. Matt in Central Ohio  

Jamie Hall

Safe? Yes -- the radiators are, after all, not combustible. Will it do anything for efficiency? Probably not. What it will do is even out the heat a little.