How to even out the heat, 2 floors, 1 zone steam system

IraMica

All,

I have a 2 story cape with 1 pipe steam heating. The (only) thermostat is on the first floor.
The issue here is that the second floor looses heat faster than the first, so I get a huge temprature change while the first floor is well controlled by the thermostat.
What can I do here to even out the heat in the house?

I can put a second thermostat on the second floor but I thought it might make the first floor too hot.


I was thinking of putting a few air vents on the ceiling of the first floor and piping them to the second floor to blow air the warmer air up to the second floor. The colder air would circulate back through the staircase.

Any ideas?

THANX

Joe_13

start with insulation

You should make sure the insullation in the attic is up to code and air infiltration is being controled as much as possible. Storm windows or new windows, etc. Are you sure your 2nd floor rads are all getting hot?

bob young

consider thermostatic valve [ danfoss ] in lieu of air valves. or contract out to a heating specialist to solve and correct problem once and for all. pay now or pay later.

Tom_22

How about putting larger radiators on the second floor and smaller ones on the first floor?

Paul_11

TRVs are one answer

true words.

If we assume that the radiators all heat up, and that you don't have any banging, or any other problems that you know about then you should be able to do the following.

If it is only that the upper floors cool off while the lower rads are still keeping the tstat hot you need to control the lower rads. Try installing Danfoss thermostaic radiator valves on the radiators and set them below the tstat.

I prefer to get rid of the tstat. Install a Tekmar 269 steam control with an indoor sensor in the coolest room in the house. Then install Danfoss TRVs on the rads in the rooms that get too hot. Works every time.
Paul


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