more love than money...very basic questions

June Szeider

The same old story we have more love than money for our old monster of a house. A pastry chef and a small business ownercan now plumb,plaster, add electical service and roofing; but we know nothing about our heating system. We have 17 cast iron radiators, two rooms without any and one that is leaking.

How do we know if our system is steam or hot water?

Is there a clear book or publication that will tell us how to add the two radiators we need, or perhaps suggest a different heating system that would not be hugely costly since those rooms are seldom used?

A book or publication on how to REPLACE leaking radiator and if we can replace it with a newer self thermostated euro type unit?


Thank you so much for your interest and time.
It is basically through sites like these that people like us are able to save the little bits of history within these old walls.

June

Unknown

Great place to start

Look at your boiler, if it is steam, you will see a glass tube on the side or front of it that shows a water level. Water boilers don't have this feature.

If it is steam, check these.

http://www.heatinghelp.com/shopcart/product.cfm?category=2-109

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=54

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=130

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=36

Noel

Dale

You are at the right place

To tell if you have steam or hot water how many pipes go to your radiator? If only one and the little torpedo thing is on the other end it must be steam. If 2 go to the basement and look ( besides the good comment on the sight glass) at the control, steam boilers are pressure controlled hot water is temperature controlled, look at the relief valve, 30 psi probably hot water, 15 PSI probably steam. If you do indeed have steam read the info on the left and buy the book "We got steam heat" as a start. This is definately not ready, fire, aim time. Alot of your money will be spent once you start to fix things and the information gathering stage should not be rushed.

Ken_8

Here's how to tell what you have.

If there's a glass tube on the boiler about 6" tall and partially filled with water and rust - it's steam.

If you have none of the above and a circulator (a/k/a a pump) - it's water.

"Hybrids" exist, but amount to way less than 5% of all the boiers on the planet.

Let us know what you have. A digital camera and posted pictures works well here.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Bill Nye

Add /Replace radiator

To replace an existing radiator it may be as simple as loosening a union nut, sliding the new radiator into place and retightening the nut. But I doubt it.

This is not rocket science and may not be beyond your skill level, but....... it takes experience, big wrenches and tools most home owners won't have access to. Like pipe threading machines and pipe cutters etc.

It could take all day or all weekend for you. In this case , hire a plumber or steam fitter. He could knock it out in a few hours. It would be money well spent.