new gas fired steam boiler

Barbara Maiorelli

The contractor says by house measures 275 sq ft of steam. The new boiler is rated for 281 sq ft of steam. Is this big enough or should I bump up to the next size?

Mark Hunt

I would not bump the boiler up to the next size.

Putting a larger boiler in will not get you more heat. You can only get as many BTU's as the connected radiation will put out.

A larger boiler will cost you more money to install, more money to operate, and never deliver one more BTU to your home.

Hope this helps!

Mark H

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Mad Dog

Barb!!!!!!!!

If all measurements are proper, sounds like you'll be fine Mad Dog

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Steamhead

Mark and Mad Dog are right, Barb

but I'd also see that all your steam-carrying pipes are well insulated. If not, the excessive "pick-up factor" (extra heat needed to warm up the pipes) and all the steam condensing in the pipes (rather than the radiators where it's supposed to condense) can make that boiler struggle to heat the house. I've encountered this in a house with a similar-sized boiler- solved the problem by insulating the pipes.

Also see that the steam main(s) are vented properly. If they're not, the boiler will have to generate more steam to build pressure to move the steam. This can also make the boiler struggle.

If the system is in good shape, that 281-square-foot boiler will work fine.

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