Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Hot Water Loop on Steam Boiler

Options
SBoston
SBoston Member Posts: 61
in Strictly Steam
<span>

Last year we installed a new gas fired Burnham independence steam boiler… this year we would like to add a hot water loop for some radiant baseboard heat in the basement. We have had three contractors tell us that they would not recommend adding a hot water loop to the boiler because it's very inefficient and will cause me trouble. I can't even get them to give me an estimate because they refuse to install it.

This seems contradictory to what I have heard and read on this wall.

One contractor suggested installing a separate hot water tank and running the baseboard off of that.

The other contractor suggested installing a gas fired, direct vented heating unit in the room.

Are hot water loops a bad idea? </span>

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
    Options
    HW loops work great

    if properly installed. Have you tried the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone who knows what they're doing? 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,526
    Options
    Good advice from Steamhead.

    Also, look here: http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/17/Hot-Water/76/Condensate-Hot-Water-Heating
    Retired and loving it.
  • SBoston
    SBoston Member Posts: 61
    Options
    Hot Water Loop on Steam Boiler



    Steamhead, unfortunately we did use "find a professional" for the original installation. Without naming names, the local "profesional" piped the whole system in copper. From what I have read and learned from Dan's books, Steam heat with copper = bad.

    I ended up repiping the system myself with a 2" drop headers. Needless to say I have learned a lot about piping and steam. The system works good, even without main vents.

    Is there anyone in the Boston area you would recommend? If adding a hot water loop is the best way, all I need is for a someone to add the loop and I can do the rest.
  • SBoston
    SBoston Member Posts: 61
    Options
    Norm we

    have moved to the Northshore... Right off 93... is that a problem? I see you deal mostly in the South Shore.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories