hot upstairs, cold downstairs

Robert_13

I have an old steam system that is not working correctly. The radiators upstairs are really hot so you have to open windows and downstairs they are not has warm. I'm not sure where to start. Any ideas?

Unknown

First step....

See if the insulation on the piping has missing sections, and replace it where you find it gone.

Noel

Robert_13

basement heat

> See if the insulation on the piping has missing

> sections, and replace it where you find it

> gone.

>

> Noel

Robert_13

basement heat

Some was taken off to heat the basement. Would I have to add a radiator in the basement?

Thad English

simple fixes from a homeowner

Second step would be to make sure that the steam mains are vented properly. And if you have vents on your rads, make sure that they are working, too. Getting the air out of the system quickly is very important for fast and even heating. Another real simple thing to do is to make sure the valves are open all the way on the radiators.


What type of steam system do you have? 2 pipe? 1 pipe?

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If the attic of an old house has been well insulated, such can throw off the balance of even perfectly functioning old systems where no or very little insulation was used originally.

Homeowners here report remarkable success with their steam systems through buying Dan's books and applying the knowledge. Even if you can't (or don't want to) make changes yourself, it will give you some GREAT background knowledge to use when selecting a contractor. Click on "Books and More" and buy Dan's books about steam.

Unknown

Sizing

The steam pipes, when insulated, eat up about 1/3 of the steam (more or less) that passes through them.

When we size a pipe to deliver X amount of steam to a radiator, the pipe has to be sized to carry somewhere around X times 1.33 or X times 1.50 amount of steam, to account for this.

A 10 sq ft radiator would need a supply pipe that carries steam enough for AT LEAST 13.3 sq ft EDR.

If a supply main is uninsulated, it gives up 5 TIMES the heat. That will be 5/3, (or 1 2/3) more pickup factor.

Do the math... 10 for the radiator, 16 for the bare piping, totalling 26 sq ft edr for a 10 sq ft radiator.

Pipe isn't big enough anymore, if it's bare.

Main is delivering 5 times the steam to heat the mains. Do you know where that comes from? The radiators that are beyond the bare main. You can only condense the steam once, then it drains back to the boiler without ever reaching the radiators it was intended for.

The bare pipes are 2 pipe sizes too small for the original radiator load connected to them.

Any radiator that you add to the system will need to be added to piping that is large enough to carry it, if you use steam. It will also need to be mounted higher than the steam main.

Of course, you could add a hot water loop for the basement, like this....

http://trainingroom.slantfin.com/articles.html

Noel

Robert_13

single pipe

It is a single pipe system. The valves are open. The vents seem ok. What is a good test? I'm not sure what sizes are correct so I probably got that wrong when I bought new vents for upstairs. Is there some way to know if the size is correct?

Robert_13

ordered

Ok. I've ordered the book.

Robert_13

need insulation

I see. I will go down and check which sections are uninsulated and fix that. Does it matter which kind of insulation is used. I seem to remember that someone wrapped one of the pipes with random insulation because it was too hot. [no laughing now]

Unknown

1\" fiberglass, minimum

I wouldn't bother checking the venting until the piping gets insulated, because you'll need to do it again afterwards.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If your experience is like mine and those who report back here, you'll be wonderfully pleased!