Books on Hydronic Heating

Wally Finn

My home currently has forced hot air heat on the first floor and no heat on the second floor. I want to install a keystoker boiler (model ka-6) in the basement. My goal is to run the hot water through a heat exchanger and eventually a second and third zone for my second story that will use baseboard heat. I am starting to realize that this may be more difficult than I can do by myself, without prior experience. I did obtain the "Slant Fin Heat Loss Calculator" and did a room by room heat loss calculation. It suggested a 66,000 BTU furnace. Currently the FHA furnace is 110,000 BTU! Is this heat loss calculator accurate?
On a closing note, do any of you pros have a suggestion for a book I can read to help me complete my job? Thanks for any suggestions and I apologize if this is not the forum for someone not in the business.
Sincerely,
Wallace E. Finn

PJO_2

Wally,

> My home currently has forced hot air heat on

> the first floor and no heat on the second floor.

> I want to install a keystoker boiler (model ka-6)

> in the basement. My goal is to run the hot water

> through a heat exchanger and eventually a second

> and third zone for my second story that will use

> baseboard heat. I am starting to realize that

> this may be more difficult than I can do by

> myself, without prior experience. I did obtain

> the "Slant Fin Heat Loss Calculator" and did a

> room by room heat loss calculation. It suggested

> a 66,000 BTU furnace. Currently the FHA furnace

> is 110,000 BTU! Is this heat loss calculator

> accurate? On a closing note, do any of

> you pros have a suggestion for a book I can read

> to help me complete my job? Thanks for any

> suggestions and I apologize if this is not the

> forum for someone not in the business.

> Sincerely, Wallace E. Finn

PJO_2

Wally, (perfect name!)

I am not a contractor, but have a few suggestions;

1) Go to the "Books and More" section on the left and spend some time there...you will not regret a single purchase. I have read about a dozen of the books listed there.

2) Get yourself educated as to how you want to do this project...sounds like you are on the right path. My only input here is why not do hydronics on the first floor as well? If your furnace is oversized now, it will be worse when you add baseboards upstairs. If you really want to have a comfortable system, add some radiant in the baths at least.

3) Get ahold of a qualified contractor (here is best - also to the left) who is experienced in this wonderful method of heating. If they are half as good as what I see here on the Wall, it will pay you back in both comfort and economy.

Good Luck, PJO

Steamhead

Keystokers

I dont think these boilers are ASME approved, so your local Code authority may not permit them. Too bad- I liked the one I saw a while ago on a steam system in Pennsylvania.

I've had good luck with Slant/Fin's program. But be sure you have the right inside and outside design temperatures. That said, it's not uncommon to find oversized furnasties and boilers.

I think you have an interesting project there, Wally. Where are you located? I'm sure there's someone near you who can handle it.

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flange

that furnace you mentioned was rated at 110,000 btu gross input. it was probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 60% efficient, possibly less. the new load calc you have done will put you in the same parameters, although thats your total heat loss. you need to consider your new heat source efficiency rating, that is if you put in a 90 plus furnace, it will run somewhere around 91% annual eff. so you can utilize a smaller furnace, probably an 80,000 btu or less. but as previously stated, hot water baseboard combined with radiant is more comfy.

Wally Finn

Follow up to \"Books on Hydronic Heating\"

I am located in Turtlepoint PA (near Bradford). I know of a few contractors in the area that do heating. Denny Baker in Roulette and some others. I'm sure they would be good reference people to help me.
That old air furnace is 130,000 BTU input and 110,000 output. That makes it about 84% efficient. The keystoker is 144,000 gross and 122,000 net.
I appreciate all the input you guys have given me.
Have any of you used the preassembled "boiler in a box" to install heating systems? They look like a good way to go, especially for a novice like me.
Thanks again!
Wally

Steamhead

That's a beautiful area

I drove thru that area last year, stayed overnight in Warren and explored the National Forest area the next day. Lucky you!

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