How do I calculate steam square feet?

Drew_7

but is that what steam square feet is?
Is it the total surface are of all of my radiators(front/back/everywhere)

Drew_7

Calculating steam square feet?

I need to size a steam boiler to replace my existing system. Currently I have a 375,000 btu boiler that probably isn't 50% efficient.(1973) I also think it is still oversized. Runs in short cycles.

How do I measure the radiators and come up with a figure to size my boiler.

Steve_35

Dan has a great book here called EDR

Every Darned Radiator. It lists them all along with the EDR for them. I think it's $40.

Weezbo

and you could spend some time on The Library....

section of the site read some of the books on steam and send him a couple bricks to help with the upKeep. *~/:)

justa thought.:)

gerry gill

yup..

that be it..

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Dave_12

To answer your question

Yes, the SF of EDR is the "equivelant square feet" of radiation of your heating system. This is equal to the "unfolded" square feet of the radiators and uninsulated piping. Since it is hard to measure the acutal square feet of surface area, there are tables used to determine SF of EDR. To use these tables, one catalogs the radiators, recording the number of columns, height, and quantity of sections. The charts show SF of EDR per section, from which you can determine the total SF of EDR per radiator.

With steam systems, for example, it is generally accepted that you will get 240 BTU/HR of heat output per SF of EDR.

As stated in one of the other answers, you may want to purchase Dan's book, The Lost Art of Steam Heating, which will tell you all you need to know about this.

Good luck.