Expanding an existing steam system

Jason Ruiter

Greetings,

I'm adding a 450 sq ft addition to my house (basically a second story). I currently have a one pipe steam system. The boiler is approx 15 years old and works fine. Since I have three extra radiators, I'd like to try to heat the new upstairs.

My questions:

1) Is this in anyway whatever a good idea? I'm at the limits of my budget on the addition, and coming up with serveral thousands dollars for a whole new heating system isn't in the cards right now.

2) I'll need to break into the existing pipes. What do I need to watch out for?

3) Can most boilers "push" steam up to another floor (its currently a single story home.)

Any help or ideas appreciated.

Thanks
Jason

J.C.A.

Jason,

Go to the "find a contractor" site on the left and find someone close by . If the boiler is big enough there shouldn't be a problem doing this . Best of luck , Chris

Unknown

I think its a real good idea

As long as the boiler is big enough to handle the extra radiators . First thing you should do is count how many square feet of radiation you have already . And the extra radiators too . And make sure the boiler is big enough to handle the extra load . You might need to buy a book to figure out how to do it right .

Cutting the tees into the main is kinda tricky . You need to cut the main , thread the pipes in place , use tees and unions and hope theres enough play to meet the ends together again . And you have to make sure you have the proper pitch to the new radiators , or else youll get water hammer and spitting vents in no time . I just recently seen this on a job - not sure who makes it , or what its called , or if steam is its intended use , but it sure makes tapping into an existing main real easy .

If you decide adding the radiators to the steam part of the boiler is too much to handle , you can always use the coil - if there is one - as a separate zone and make those extra radiators you have into hot water heat . Or just use baseboard heat . You have plenty of options . Either way you go - this is some complex work involved . After buying all the right tools , and all the labor involved , if you have any 2nd thoughts about it , your best bet is to click on Find A Contractor , and let the guys who do it all the time put you in their good hands , like Chris said .

Bob Bona_4

my

thoughts are for control-read zoning-it may be better to run a hot water loop off the boiler, through condensate, or possibly the tankless coil, if there is one. I would start by doing a heat loss calc. for the second floor. Probaly won't require much heat at 450 square. Not only will you be able to control the heating better, but the job WILL work, instead of it "should" work grafting more steam take-offs-all depending on the installers skill and adaptibility to the old system.

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Unknown

I'd run a new main

to that floor, right from the header. I'd hope it was a similar length and load size as the other main(s).

I wouldn't take the radiators off the existing main unless it were oversized enough to handle it.

There are lot's of ways to do it...

Noel

Roger Litman

Special fitting

The fitting seen in the posting below is a "Vitaulic type" fitting which is rated for a max of 240° which is less than the 15psi that steam boilers are rated to produce. It has been used by steamfitters, but strictly speaking it is not up to spec. I would strongly suggest that you do NOT install steam radiators on the second floor and instead opt for a baseboard system off a tankless or if necessary off the boiler. This will give you a good second zone and will give a more comfortable addition. The cost of having a professional do it this way will not be much(if any) more than trying to put a steam radiator or two in. There is probably a 90% chance that the existing boiler will handle the load as most boilers are oversized.

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