Removing Main Insulation for More Basement Heat?

AdmiralYoda

This has been discussed many times but I'm a bit curious as to how it will affect my particular situation. We have a small 1,800 sq.ft. house built in 1870, fairly tight and well insulated. Two stories with a fieldstone/brick basement.

The mains and near boiler piping have 1/2" fiberglass on them. Basement stays in the mid-50's during the winter. I'm thinking of removing some main insulation to get more heat into the basement. I'm curious if this will have any larger impacts to the overall operation of the system.

45 year old Peerless boiler in perfect shape. Single pipe counterflow. Oversized at 308 sq.ft. of steam, connected EDR is about 218. It short cycles on pressure, 16oz cut in, 12oz differential. System works great and is well balanced.

All that said, my kids are growing up and I'm sprucing up the basement. There will be no insulated walls but I'm painting the fieldstone/brick and floors and installing plenty of lighting to make more use out of the space for hobbies, working out, etc.

Would removing some of the main insulation make my effective EDR go up? Would I short cycle less? Would my fuel usage change? Your thoughts?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I doubt if you'd notice a difference in the operation of your boiler or fuel usage and your basement would be warmer. I'd figure 75 BTU's per linear foot. Just warn the kids not to do chin-ups on the bare pipes. Or let them find out for themselves.

techforlife

Bare pipes are radiators. You will be condensing steam to water more rapidly before reaching radiation farther down the line. Cycles will be longer, more fuel used, and possibly less heat to some other radiators. May not be much of an issue, but something to consider.

delcrossv

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1845111#Comment_1845111

If it is, it can be helped somewhat with additional mains venting. All I can can say is try it, see what happens, and adjust accordingly.

AdmiralYoda

Thanks everyone! The mains are already well vented.

Actually my near boiler insulation is barely adequate, probably 50% open. I'd start by removing the insulation at the far end of the basement (where I want the heat) and install it at the boiler.

I wouldn't throw out what I remove so worst case is I just make a bit of a mess and reinstall it!