New zones on gravity boiler system

Mike T., Swampeast MO

What type of emitters are in the works for the addition? How many separate rooms on those three floors?

Ricopp

New zones on gravity boiler system

Looking at a job with an existing gravity hot water boiler system. The owner is looking to add a 2 storey plus basement, addition to the side of the house. Now I read somewhere, (here I think) that adding rads to an existing system of this nature is not a good idea...
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
PS - each floor of the addition is approx 400 sq. ft. x 3 floors = 1200 sq. ft.

Gene_3

If

they are making apartments or a townhouse I'd put in a seperate system.

Either way a heatload calculation is required, sounds like it's time for all new, what would be the point of hooking up a new addition up to a 1894 gravity boiler????????

to answer you q---------no

Ricopp

Gravity ?'s

The existing house has CI column rads, and I would be using CI baseboard rads in the new rooms
Both main & second floor have a bathroom, then theres a master bed on the 2nd floor, and a great rm. & laundry on the 1st floor... of course theres a few closets here and there too.

Al Letellier_9

add on zones to gravity

If it's in the budget, I would consider converting the entire system to FHW using primary secondary piping scheme. You could add outdoor reset with constant circulation and keep the comfort level of the old system...assuming it's working OK. Then you would be free to add all the zones you want. Certainly a good heat loss calc is in order and if the boiler can handle it, OK. If not, you have the opportunity to install a new one and be a hero when the fuel consumption goes down and the comfort level goes up.

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Mike T., Swampeast MO

Really sounds like you'll need to re-pipe the near-boiler for primary secondary. Existing boiler may well be sufficient in size, but you must verify.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that the existing rads EVER approach 180F!!! Compare their output on a room-by-room basis to the loss of the room. Only then can you have a reasonable idea of the current temperature of the radiation.

This could well be the beginning of a heating disaster if you try to do this on the cheap...