Converting steam radiators to hot water

Narendra Varma

I have a job with old two-pipe steam radiators which was converted to hot-water in the mid-eighties. The steam inlet is at the top of the radiator and the condensate left from the bottom through a steam trap. When the conversion was done, the hot water supply was routed to the steam inlet (i.e. to the top of the radiators).

I'm wondering if this is the best configuration for a hydronic system -- should the supply hot water be piped to the bottom of the the radiator instead? The colder return water would exit from the top of the radiator in this case.

Thanks,

- Narendra

Mike T., Swampeast MO

I don't know of any problems with top-supply, bottom-return connections (on opposite sides of the rad). Might be hard to get a large rad hot all the way across if the connections are on the same side and flow volume is high

In fact this is the PREFERRED way with self-contained TRVs. Not only does it put the room temp sensing element where it's supposed to be, it makes it more convenient to use.