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Horizontal ceiling radiators.

Turbo Dave
Turbo Dave Member Posts: 79
I belong to an old-house facebook page. I look for and find lots of great radiators in their posts. These are in the Masonic Lodge in Little Falls, NY. Built in 1914.
MilanD

Comments

  • Phil53
    Phil53 Member Posts: 73
    The former Post Office building in Aurora, IL has similar ceiling mount radiators in the basement. The building is now a Science Museum and last time I was in there a few years ago, still had the original one-pipe steam system.
    MilanD
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    I don't know if, 100 years later, I'd be comfortable sitting under these...
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    They should be OK. We had to re-hang one of these once:

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/135021/re-hanging-a-ceiling-radiator
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Turbo Dave
  • Not common, but they are around.
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    edited May 2017
    I know, I know @Steamhead - I have one in our basement at work. Still I check connections on them every time I go down there. Screwed into joists.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    At my high school about 50 years ago, my science teacher herself told me the story that she was at her desk and was compelled to get up and walk across the room. She said there was no reason to go but got up and moved anyway. Just then the ceiling rad came crashing down on her desk and chair. It was about the size of the ones shown in the pictures.

    It makes one believe in angels, I get wet eyed just telling the story as she was and still is one of my favorite teachers.

    All the ceiling rads have since been removed. About 10 years ago I went to correct hangers on the sagging 3" single pipe main in that area. They used 1/4" X 2" eyelet lag screws. There were few threads into the joists after going thru plaster and wood lath. The pipe going thru walls was really the only support remaining. It now has nearly an overkill of hangers using 2 1/2" Sammie and auto grips. If the pipe hanging hardware was indicative of the methods for the radiators then it was no surprise of the failure. This was installed in perhaps 1919. It takes a lot of extra hangers to correct pipe that was only supported every 15' at best. Even the pipe between good hangers developed it's own "belly". There are numerous 2" risers with their weight on the main, some over 20'.
    MilanD
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    This is another high school built in 1938. These hangers go into the concrete poured floor above. All hangers are of this nature. I have seen only maybe 2 fail.

    There is a basement full of these, the building is expected to be torn down within 5 years.
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    @JUGHNE

    Saw rad like this last week. I was thinking of using it, but too big for my living room. Do you know what EDR is per section on these? I'm just curious.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    My best guess was 28.5" with 2 columns would be 2.8 EDR/section.
    21.5" with 2 columns would be 2 EDR/section.
    I believe these were Crane brand.

    Not sure where my approximation came from. Not critical for me as I am not changing the boiler, just wanted an estimation on how oversized it was. (at least a factor of 2 X)
    MilanD
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    Thank you. This was a 28-30" (about), 1 column.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    For a wall rad of this type, we use the single-column chart and add the height of standard legs. So this was probably a 32" section with the legs eliminated. Therefore, 2.5 square feet per section.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    MilanD
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    Thanks @Steamhead!

    35x2.5=87.5 EDR, 21,000btu

    My Living room design day loss is at 19,932 btu per slant fin app (brick 12", plaster on brick, single pain door with a strom, single pain picture window and double hung vinyl replacement window, with 3 sides exposed to outdoor, conditioned upstairs and unheated basement).

    Huh,... it's actually less EDR than I thought it would be. That's probably a 700lb rad if not more... 20-25lb per section?