Using pipe as steam radiator

edmartin

Hello all, I have a third floor closet 10'x10' that is above a den. the den has a radiator that has a stub up pipe. (single pipe system). I would like to have some heat in the 3rd fl closet. is it possible to extend the stub up pipe before the valve at radiator thru the floor above and just run a horizontal pipe along the baseboard of the closet with a vent at the end to act as a heater without actually adding a radiator?? thanks for comments

Jamie Hall

Well, theoretically, yes, provided the pipe has some slope to it. However, unless it is a pretty big pipe, it isn't going to get you much heat. Somewhere around 100 BTUh per foot for inch and a half pipe.

worldclasshvac

I remember reading 1 foot of 2" black steam pipe uninsulated supply is about equal to 1foot of 3/4 copper fin tube in output

EBEBRATT-Ed

@edmartin

Yes. Just plan it so you have a little upward pitch all the way to the end of the radiator. I would plan on using 2 elbows at the top of the riser to give you some pitch on the horizontal. You could do that with 2 90s but a 45 and a 90 would be better. A reducing elbow on the end of the "radiator" turned up with a straight air vent in it will work best and the added venting will make the "Den" heat faster.

bburd

In many older New York City apartments the bathroom "radiator" is a 2 inch steam pipe run vertically from the basement in a corner of the stacked bathrooms to the top floor, where there is an air vent. It works well.

edmartin

Thanks for all your comments. I can certainly slope with the use of the elbows. I will only have to find the right reducer and vent for a main vent application at end of run. I think the pipe is 1 1/2" or 1 1/4".

TonKa

Before you go through all the effort, you may want to figure out how much heat you want in the 3rd floor closet so you'll be happy with the result.

I believe ten feet of 1 1/2 inch black pipe puts out about 1,200 BTU - less BTU than two feet of cast iron base board.

edmartin

the pipe comes thru the floor then 4' towards the outside wall, 12' along the outside wall and returns another 6' (20 to 22' total run). Never had heat at all in this closet. seems like anything would help. there is only one radiator on the rise before this closet in a room on the second floor below and it is 2'w x 10" d x 36" h. just hoping to turn the room from 45 degrees to 65 degrees on the coldest days.