Steam for addition

Scott24

I have one-pipe steam with dry returns. My new addition is 16 feet from existing mains, and very far from my boiler. I plan to add a first-floor radiator (40 EDR) and directly above a second-floor radiator (25 EDR), but they are located in rooms above a part of my basement that is open (sort of a garage with no door). I want to avoid much piping below the radiators because I have no room, and I would then need to figure out a special way to insulate them (and there are lots of obstacles in my basement ceiling - every new run of anything is an adventure)

I want to have a solid design in mind before I let someone start cutting pipe (the best people in my area are too busy right now to take my little job).

I have the following questions:

1) Is it permissable to run steam pipes through joists, or between joists, or do they have to be run below joists?

2) Can I add a loop onto a loop, by branching a main off of an existing main, and bringing its return back to the existing return, as long as I use a tall loop seal in the second loop?

3) Can I do a 16-foot horizontal run-out (1/2" per foot) to serve those two radiators? Can I use 1.25" or should I use 1.5"?

4) Can/should I use a riser vent on that second floor riser to help balance?

Thanks for any advice!

Scott24

Far-away radiators

I have one-pipe steam with dry returns. My new addition is on the other side of a stone foundation wall and very far from my boiler. I plan to add a first-floor radiator (40 EDR) and directly above a second-floor radiator (25 EDR), but they are located about 16 feet from existing mains in rooms above a part of my basement that is open (sort of a garage with no door). I want to avoid much piping below those radiators because of that open-air space (ideally I can fit all the piping in between or close to the existing joists so I have a hope of getting them well insulated). Also, my basement ceiling is a nightmare of a rats nest, so every new pipe (or even just a wire) is an adventure.

I want to have a solid design in mind before I let someone start cutting pipe (the best people in my area are too busy right now to take my little job).

I have the following questions:

1) Is it permissable to run steam pipes through joists, or between joists, or do they have to be run below joists?

2) Can I add a loop onto a loop, by branching a main off of an existing main, and bringing its return back to the existing return, as long as I use a tall loop seal in the second loop?

3) Can I do a 16-foot horizontal run-out (1/2" per foot) to serve those two radiators? Can I use 1.25" or should I use 1.5"?

4) Can/should I use a riser vent on that second floor riser to help balance?

Thanks for any advice!

Steamhead

I think you're on the right track

If there's any way you can pipe both radiators off the same runout- which can go between joists, but I wouldn't try to run it thru holes in the joists- you can vent the end of the runout and it will speed circulation to both rads.

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bob young

2 nd zone

how about a hot water loop off the condensate with cast iron baseboard radiation . separate zone

Scott24

venting runout

I was concerned about going through joists myself, is there a specific thing I need to watch out about with steam (other than just weakening the joist with the hole)?

Also, if I have one runout that serves a 1st and a 2nd floor radiator, should I vent both the runout and the top of the riser, or just one of them? Does it matter which order I takeoff for the first and second floor risers?

Thanks for any help!

Steamhead

You have to watch your pitch

when installing steam pipes, and if you run the pipe thru joists it's going to be hard to correct the pitch if the joists settle.

Venting the end of the long runout will be fine. The vent on the second-floor radiator will also vent that riser.

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