Old House with heating pipes - replacement wisdom requested!

akirakido

My house was built in 1890ish and in the basement, there are heavy big pipes running across all over (and they are low which takes up much headspace). They are wrapped with asbestos for insulation as you guessed.

They are old and it’s matter of time when we need to replace them.

We would love to keep all the radiators for heating, however, I would like to remove all those pipes in the basement. Can we use pex? If so, is the heating strong enough to heat the house? Or… I should abandon the idea of heating the house with radiators and use central air which will be very costly. (Either direction I take, it will be costly… that I know.)

I wanted to hear from you who have done it, seen it and the owner enjoys it.

Thanks!

KC_Jones

Is this a hot water or steam system? That makes a big difference with what is possible.

pecmsg

Post a picture of the boiler from a distance so we can see what you have.

Ironman

Definitely do NOT get rid of the radiators. Forced air will not heat your house properly.

Steamhead

@akirakido , where are you located? We might know someone in your area. Also, post some pics of the boiler, pipes and some radiators so we can get a look.

Jamie Hall

As @KC_Jones and @pecmsg said, without knowing whether this is a hot water or steam system, we'd just be guessing. So we need to know that, for starters.

In either case your comment that the pipes are old and it will only be a matter of time before they need replacing… No. If it's steam, they'll still be there, functioning just fine, long after you and I are gone. If it's hot water, it's a little more problematic but not much — if they are good iron, and I'd imagine they are, it's possible that there may be a leak or two at a joint from time to time, but again — a century or two isn't old for good iron pipes.

Now… if they are aesthetically objectional, or actually in the way of some desired modification to the house, that's another matter.

You ask if the heating is strong enough to heat the house. Ah… have you lived in it? Is it? Either it is or it isn't. That depends on the radiators (and type of system — converting steam to hot water usually doesn't end well).

And last comment — pay attention to @Ironman 's comment. He's one of the real experts here!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Regardless of weather the system is steam or water the chances that the pipe will fail and need to be replaced is slim.

The only pipe likely to fail is in a steam system with wet returns (the piping below the boiler water line.

Pictures will help.