Advice on how to re-run 1 pipe steam supply

Kjmass1

I have one radiator that branches off the end of my steam main call it 25’ of 1” black pipe, with its own wet return (opposite direction, below supply). It’s kind of a mess because they notched through joists, it limits my basement door height, and there was another basement wall radiator there so it’s just messy. I’d like to instead re-run the line from the main branch in a different path, but essentially still around 25’ but up and out of the way within a joist bay and not through them all. 

1) any reason I can’t use the supply as the drip return back? There is a wet return where it ties in at the end of the main. 

2) what’s the recommended pitch?

3) should I stick to 1”? The sole radiator has an EDR of 60, and honestly could be half the size. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

1" is too small for an EDR of 60. 1 1/4" will do 55, 1 1/2 will do 85. The line should come off the main with a 45 deg elbow and pitch up 1/2" / foot (the more the better). You can drip it into a wet return by putting a tee in the branch between the main and the radiator. Putting the tee closer to the rad is better.

It would be better if you could post a rough sketch of what you want to do. Or some pictures. If you come off the main and go up high and pitch down toward the rad and put a drip near the basement wall you could get away with 1 1/4 pipe.

ethicalpaul

Is the rest of your system 1 pipe?

what is the pitch going to be on your new routed pipe?

on a typical call for heat, how much of the radiator gets steam hot?

Mad Dog_2

When in doubt.
1) .oversize a steam line. 
2) More pitch is better..pitch is your friend.
3) Parallel flow Steam & condensate moving in same direction) is always better

Mad Dog 🐕 

Kjmass1

Kjmass1

So I did a 1 degree recovery and it got fully hot like all the other radiators. It’s 150sf room above the basement, connected to a 100sf finished porch that doesn’t have a radiator but open hallway to kitchen. Ideally I’d add a small radiator to the porch next to it and downsize this one as well.