Dead Men Built This System

Keith_8

The drawing would indicate to me that your sunroom should be overheating.

Assuming the rooms all have the proper amount of radiation and based on the drawing it looks like you have a balancing issue.

I'm located in New Haven County,drop me a email.

Keith

1928Brick

Dead Men Built It - I need help!

“If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!”

If I don’t fix it, I may go broke from the fuel bills….

House Built: 1928

Construction: Brick (9” Thick) - Exterior Walls

Style: 2 Story, Georgian, Hip Roof

Size: 1800 Sqr Ft. (approx.)

Location: Connecticut

HVAC Equipment:

Boiler: Fitzgibbons 401 (Steel/Round), Gray Case/Green Top

Water Rating: 880
Heating Surface: 32 Sqr Ft.

Burner: Carlin 100CRD

Pump: BG Booster 1/6 hp

Hot Water: KAM – Model # ???, Indirect HW – Horizontal, Looks like B&G - Thermo-Voir

Piping: Two-Pipe System
Scheme: Two Branches

Mains: 2.5” and 2.0”

Riser: 1.5”

Branches: 1.5” from Main then 1.0” to Circuit

Room - Size - Windows - Radiators

Sunroom - 17X10 - 10 Casement - Crane Baseboard – 35 ft

Living - 22X11 - 4 D Hung - Crane Baseboard - 22 ft

Dining - 12X11 - 4 D Hung - Crane Baseboard - 20 ft

Kitchen - 18X11 - 2 Case(Small) - Sunrad - 20 Sections
+ 1 D/H - USRad., Triton – 9 Sect

Hall/Stairs - 15X7 - Front Door - Sunrad - 20 Sect

Bathroom - 9X6 - D/H (small)- Sunrad - 14 "

Bed Room 1 - 14X11 - 5 D/H - USRad., Triton – 17 Sect

Bed Room 2 - 12X11 - 4 D/H - USRad., Triton – 13 Sect

Bed Room 3 - 10X11 - 2 D/H - USRad., Triton – 10 Sect

Ceiling Height: 8.5’

Additional Info:

* Recently purchased house.

* Boiler – Firebox is deteriorated. Boiler has required high maintenance, but is currently running trouble free.

* Crane Baseboard & Sunrad Radiators (not original equipment) are relatively new gear.

* Radiation from Cranes is very uneven unless running system at temps over 75 degrees.

* Currently radiators don’t have thermostatic valves & current individual valves are problematic.

* Bleed radiators – all water samples came out clear!

* Gas line cut years ago because of age

Need practical, common sense advise on how to upgrade this system and not break the bank?

How many years of good service has this boiler and booster pump given??? Function first.

Can’t imagine upgrading this system only to increase complexity and reduce reliability.

In advance, thank you for consideration.

Keith_8

Worth a visit?

Who services your equipment?

Wether it's oil or gas can we assume you have a service contract?

If so, what have they suggested?

Yesterday I was in a turn of the century large city church doing a survey for a boiler replacement.

Nice old 2 pipe steam system with some modifacations done a along the way. Some were done well and some were done as a band aid solution for other problems.

The caretaker and resident/steam guy/parishinor had a genuine interest in cleaning up some of the issues, including replacing the leaking boiler.

My point is have someone knowledgable inspect the system and advise you. Sometimes small changes can make big improvements.

Keith

Keith_8

Sorry

Got off the subject.

It sounds like you may have a converted hot water gravity system.

Does the house heat evenly?

Insulation in the attic, storm windows and doors? If the boiler seems to be behaving and the house heats evenly tightening up the house would be my 1st step.

Keith

Steamhead

The baseboard

may not have enough radiating surface compared to the old radiators. This would account for those rooms not heating well. Have you found where the pipes used to come up to radiators in those rooms? If you have, measure their distance from each other center-to-center as well as center-to-wall, and that will give us an idea of what was there.

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1928Brick

1928Brick is heated by oil.

Double Hung Windows are Vinyl Insulated - Argon/Double Glass…. Sunroom Casements are original and being replaced. Attic is insulated, planning to add more and venting.

Don’t have service contract – anticipate replacing boiler in next six months.

Definitely need experienced engineer/master plumber. One who appreciates this old two pipe system, radiators & valves along with the opportunity to sell a particular brand of boiler (Buderus, Weil McLean, …., etc.).

Heating is very uneven with output in Sunroom and Dining Rooms the weakest.

Basement ceiling is finished but found position of one removed radiator in Living Room. Holes are 2” wide and 6” feet apart.

Piping system maybe a converted gravity system. See attached photo.

Would like to add thermostatic valves and/or electric zone values (w/programmable thermostats). I’m uncertain about electric control issues like cost, complexity and reliability.

Also attached are a couple pictures of my pipes and a basic diagram of the system.

1928Brick

1928Brick is heated by oil.

Double Hung Windows are Vinyl Insulated - Argon/Double Glass…. Sunroom Casements are original and being replaced. Attic is insulated, planning to add more and venting.

Don’t have service contract – anticipate replacing boiler in next six months.

Definitely need experienced engineer/master plumber. One who appreciates this old two pipe system, radiators & valves along with the opportunity to sell a particular brand of boiler (Buderus, Weil McLean, …., etc.).

Heating is very uneven with output in Sunroom and Dining Rooms the weakest.

Basement ceiling is finished but found position of a removed radiator(Living Room). Holes are 2” wide and 6” feet apart.

Piping system maybe a converted gravity system. See attached photo.

Would like to add thermostatic valves and/or electric zone values (w/programmable thermostats). I’m uncertain about electric control issues like cost, complexity and reliability.

Also attached are a couple pictures of my pipes and a basic diagram of the system.

1928Brick

1928Brick is heated by oil.

Double Hung Windows are Vinyl Insulated - Argon/Double Glass…. Sunroom Casements are original and being replaced. Attic is insulated, planning to add more and venting.

Don’t have service contract – anticipate replacing boiler in next six months.

Definitely need experienced engineer/master plumber. One who appreciates this old two pipe system, radiators & valves along with the opportunity to sell a particular brand of boiler (Buderus, Weil McLean, …., etc.).

Heating is very uneven with output in Sunroom and Dining Rooms the weakest.

Basement ceiling is finished but found position of a removed radiator(Living Room). Holes are 2” wide and 6” feet apart.

Piping system maybe a converted gravity system. See attached photo.

Would like to add thermostatic valves and/or electric zone values (w/programmable thermostats). I’m uncertain about electric control issues like cost, complexity and reliability.

Also attached are a couple pictures of my pipes and a basic diagram of the system.

Ken_8

Ya need to

go to the top of this page to: "FIND A PROFESSIONAL" stick in your zip code and see who's nearest. Almost anyone who is in that list is above average, and also lurks around these parts sharing and learning...

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1928Brick

I'm in Hartford County, the home of Hartford Steam Boiler Co. and there isn't a "Find a Professional within 25 miles???

David Sutton_5

Hartford area

I am in the Hartford area, Beacon Mechanical 1-860-844-0111. ...David

John Felciano

Help

E-mail me,You might be a little out of my area but I can help you find a reliable contractor near you.felcie@adelphia.net

Mad Dog_2

Yep gotta get a pro in there before you spend more $$$$$

Mad Dog

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