First steps to size out a new boiler ? EDR?

CoachBoilermaker

Total beginner here.

Want to be prepared when my oil boiler / steam heat needs replacing.

Could pay extra for gas line hookup, but might not be an option in a winter failure where speed is a factor.

There are 6 radiators, 3 on each floor. Single pipe.

What should I measure first? Radiator size, fins? Room size?

What is the tube count number mean?

CoachBoilermaker

I am first reading through this thread

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/190906/edr-to-determine-new-steam-boiler-size-am-i-doing-it-right

STEAM DOCTOR

Steam or hot water?

Jamie Hall

The OP said steam — so the first step is to determine the EDR of the existing system — radiator type and size, number of sections etc. There are very good tables for that — including the book "Every Darn Radiator".

Tube count is the number of vertical tubes in each section of the radiator. Sections is just that, end to end. The tables give you the EDR of each section, then just multiply by the number of sections.

Better yet, once you have the system EDR, you match that as closely as you can to the rated EDR of the boiler (sometimes shown as "square feet of steam"). No additional computation involved!

CoachBoilermaker

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1810677#Comment_1810677

Oil boiler / steam heat….Could pay extra for gas line hookup, but might not be an option in a winter failure where speed is a factor.

Jamie Hall

if gas is available…