Hot Water Cast Iron Radiator system

Steve_46

I have an old house that has Cast Iron radiators with hot
water. The Boiler has been replaced twice and each time the
piping for the radiators has stayed the same. Meaning, that
there are two pipes that go around the perimeter of the basement, one feed and one return. Each and every radiator
is connected to these pipes. One pipe from the feed goes up
to the radiator and one pipe comes back to the return pipe.
Everything works fine.
The question I have is can I just use one of the feed pipe
that goes up to a second floor bedroom, relocate that radiator in the same room and then come out of the return
side of that radiator and go to another cast iron unit?
I would like to put a total of four units in series that way
and then return back down to the basement return pipe. The
size of the pipe going up is one inch galvanized. I will
be able to change the size of that pipe because a wall to
the upstairs must be opened. The pipe around the basement
is either 1.5 or 2.0 inches. It is the original pipe that
was installed for the system. We like the cast Iron heaters
plus of course we have them already and the work fine except
they will all be moved with the new renovation.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Steve

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Not a good idea. Maybe two in series in the same room, but not four in series in separate rooms. By the time you get to the 3rd or 4th radiator there most likely won't be enough energy left to heat the rooms.

Steamhead

Mike's right

The radiators must remain connected in parallel like they are now. And when you move pipes, do not reduce their size. If you do you will mess up the circulation. This system sounds like it originally circulated by gravity (no pump) that's why the pipes are so big.

This would be a good time to install Thermostatic Radiator Valves in bedrooms and other places that you want to keep cooler than the rest of the house. These units serve as limiting devices, shutting off the water flow to the radiators they serve when the room reaches the set point. Here's a shot of one in my house.

Lastly, for optimum results make sure your circulator pump is not oversized. Go to the following link for more info:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=125

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Steamhead

Mike's right

The radiators must remain connected in parallel like they are now. And when you move pipes, do not reduce their size. If you do you will mess up the circulation. This system sounds like it originally circulated by gravity (no pump) that's why the pipes are so big.

This would be a good time to install Thermostatic Radiator Valves in bedrooms and other places that you want to keep cooler than the rest of the house. These units serve as limiting devices, shutting off the water flow to the radiators they serve when the room reaches the set point. I have included a shot of one on a radiator in my house. This is the same type of system I believe you have.

Lastly, for optimum results make sure your circulator pump is not oversized. Go to the following link for more info:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/newsletter.cfm?Id=125

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

don_89

Whats that

hanging off the rad? No dont tell me let me guess..That is
a Steamhead design humidifider..

I would ask how the marriage life is going,but from seeing your decline in posts,I would have to assume all is well.

Hows ya doing?

Steamhead

You're right, it's an old humidifier

but I can't remember who made it, it came from a long-gone hardware store.

Yes, The Lovely Naoko and I are enjoying being married. But I try not to neglect my friends on the Wall!

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Mark Eatherton1

You could do it but....

You'll have to incorporate some means of flow reversal to chase the cold out of the middle. Here's an orphan I inherited that had the radaitors in series. We replaced the heat source (Winchester) but the lady of the house didn NOT want to deconstruct here home to facilitate the proper radiator piping, so we threw the 4 way reverser at it, and she's MUCH more comfortable than she was before. Before, her kitchen was SMOKING hot, and her living room was chillingly cool. Now they're all invitingly warm...

If you can avoid it, I would. Theres no right way to do things wrong...

ME