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.

Heating bathrooms with one pipe steam system

branimal
branimal Member Posts: 210
I'm gut renovating an apartment with a one pipe steam system. Two bathrooms side by side. One had a 2" steam pipe and the other had no heat.

Burnham IN7 in the basement heating 3300 sq ft.

I could run steam pipe into both bathrooms, but I wanted to know my other options. Small steam baseboard, etc.

Thanks

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Small cast-iron radiator, as made by OCS, Governale, Burnham etc.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    Anything with a more modern appearance?
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    You can use baseboard but it has to be pitched or hooked up 2 pipe which can be done.

    A radiator is the best
    branimalSuperTech
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    Other option is run a hot water loop off the boiler. Has ot be piped correctly. But if you have floor access under it, you could do a low temp radiant floor. But you need a mixing valve and injection loop to control water temp.

    Can also custom build a radiant panel if they have a shared wall. Add some towel racks and you also get a towel warmer out of it.

    When I renovate our bath, I wish I had piped the shower hot water supply in series with a towel rack made from copper pipe, but before the recirc connection. I’ll do it on our master bath when we construct it.
    branimal
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    Sounds like a radiator is the most straightforward way.

    Found a nice small one at AF Supply.com And they have a location very close by!

    https://www.afsupply.com/cast-iron-radiator-19-h-4-tubes-4-sections.html

    Thanks.
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    edited March 2019
    I could sell you mine, I just swapped it out for a vintage model
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    branimal
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    steamradiators.com
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210

    I could sell you mine, I just swapped it out for a vintage model

    What's the EDR on the radiator and the measurement? Thread size on the radiator valve? Thx
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,416
    Edr is 16, radiator is 19h/4.5w/17.5L. Botttom tappings are 1-1/4”, top are 1”.
    branimal
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    Does a bottom tapping of 1 1/4" hook up to a 1" steam radiator shutoff valves?

    I ask b/c I have radiators the same size 19/4.5/17.5 and they take 1" steam radiator valves.

    I'd like to order the required piping today.

    Here's the radiator I'm considering.
    https://www.afsupply.com/cast-iron-radiator-19-h-4-tubes-4-sections.html
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Just get a 1-1/4"x1" bushing and you'll be fine.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    branimal
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,416
    That is the exact same radiator @branimal and the bottom connection is 1-1/4”. A bushing would work as @Steamhead suggested, although I like bushing the bottom of the radiator valve instead.
    branimalSeanBeans
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    I'm reducing a 2" steam pipe and splitting it off to these 2 bathroom radiators. Would it be preferable to run 1" or 1 1/4" piping after the reducer coupling? See diagram.

    Thanks!


  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    I'd go 2" all the way up to the tee, and make your reductions there. Much simpler and no chance of inadequate steam delivery as long as all your horizontal pipes have good pitch.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    branimal
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    I got mine from AFSupply too, just up the road from me in Fairfield NJ if I recall correctly. I can tell you that even though it is pretty heavy, it gives off nothing like the heat that the old ones do.

    I can't even imagine how little a 4 section one would give off, I think it wouldn't even be noticeable!
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
    branimal
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    edited March 2019
    I was talking to a landlord in my area and he said none of his bathrooms have heat. It's not required in NYC either. And he suggested cast iron radiators in a bathroom are going to rust from the constant moisture (shower etc).

    Another option is to put a radiator on the wall just outside the bathrooms. It will heat up the kitchen area while also giving off some heat to the bathrooms. See pic.

    @Steamhead - Regarding pitch, If I put a 90 elbow on a vertical pipe, you cannot create any pitch unless you lean the pipe backwards? Is it better practice to put a 45 elbow on vertical pipes?

    @ethicalpaul why do you think these new radiators don't give off as much heat? Is the metal different? Or the new radiator's internal pathway for steam smaller?


  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,695
    edited March 2019
    I'm not sure why, or even the extent of the difference (it's hard to measure objectively). The tubes are definitely smaller than older radiators, and yet the units definitely have a lot of mass, and that could mean the internal races are very small. The unit got hot to touch, but it didn't seem to "radiate" heat very well. I never got around to painting it, and that can make some difference.

    The rust concern I think isn't really valid. I have a (painted) in-wall cast iron radiator/convector in my house (built 1913) and there's no rust (and there's never been a bathroom fan in there either). Certainly with modern venting codes there must not be "constant moisture" in these bathrooms.

    I can tell you the comfort of a heat source in the bathroom is very nice in the winter.
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    I have a small radiator, about 25 EDR in each of two bathrooms in my house and they keep those bathrooms nice and toasty. They are original to the house (117 years old) and moisture has had no effect on them so the concern about showers/other bathroom moisture is unfounded.
    I also have two other bathrooms that don't have radiators at all but have radiators in the hall nearby. Those bathrooms stay very comfortable also but not as toasty as the ones with radiators.
    ethicalpaulbranimalLionA29
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    A nice oversized radiator is great in a bathroom. Can hang cotton towels over it too.

    Rust? It’s called paint. Neither of mine have rust. Bathrooms should have exhaust fans anyway.
    branimalSuperTech
  • JohnNY
    JohnNY Member Posts: 3,226
    I live in Manhattan and I've only got a steam riser in my bathroom. A 2" riser pipe at 1 psi steam pressure gives us a surface temperature of about 215° at roughly 1 EDR per linear foot. With a 9' ceiling, that's basically a Governale/OCS/Burnham 4-tube, 19" tall radiator with 6 sections.
    Rust in not an issue. Spray paint the radiator if you're concerned. And having the radiator outside the bathroom will be no help at all. Don't listen to the ridiculous things people want to tell you.
    Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
    Consulting & Troubleshooting
    Heating in NYC or NJ.
    Classes
    branimalCanuckerSuperTech
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    @JohnNY , It's not worth a debate but I have two bathrooms that stay quite comfortable without radiators in them and the radiators outside those rooms are the only source of heat. It's not ridiculous. It does however assume you leave the bathroom door open when not in use.
  • JohnNY
    JohnNY Member Posts: 3,226
    Fred said:

    @JohnNY , It's not worth a debate but I have two bathrooms that stay quite comfortable without radiators in them and the radiators outside those rooms are the only source of heat. It's not ridiculous. It does however assume you leave the bathroom door open when not in use.

    Fair enough.


    Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
    Consulting & Troubleshooting
    Heating in NYC or NJ.
    Classes
  • branimal
    branimal Member Posts: 210
    Thanks for the feedback guys. Right now I'm renovating the 3rd floor of a 3-family building. I'll be completely demo'ing and renovating the 2nd floor after I'm done with the 3rd.

    My thinking is, if I need bathroom radiation, I can always run the pipes up from underneath when I have the 2nd floor ceiling open. Laying pipe from up top is a bit tedious. Laying on joists and reaching down 2-3' with pipe wrenches is tough on the body.

    The added benefit is I'll know exactly where the finished walls are.
  • clammy
    clammy Member Posts: 3,103
    Had a old cottage home that just had a 1 1/2 pipe coming out of the floor went about 7 ft up w a cap and a angle vent drill and tapped into the side of the pipe . Barely noticed it kinda behind the door heated that bath pretty good .it would have been nice with a couple of tee s off it to hang towels . The house was built in the late 40 s or so all original .peace and good luck clammy
    R.A. Calmbacher L.L.C. HVAC
    NJ Master HVAC Lic.
    Mahwah, NJ
    Specializing in steam and hydronic heating
    ethicalpaul
  • SeanBeans
    SeanBeans Member Posts: 520
    I like what @gerry gill did on one of his mini tube installs. That custom box
  • Dave in QCA
    Dave in QCA Member Posts: 1,785
    Nothing nicer than a warm radiator in the bathroom. I have had many through the years, hot water and steam. I've never had a problem with a radiator rusting in a bathroom. BUT, if you get in the habit of putting wet towels, mittens, etc on the radiator to dry, you're going to get rust from that. Hang towels on a rack directly above the radiator.
    Dave in Quad Cities, America
    Weil-McLain 680 with Riello 2-stage burner, December 2012. Firing rate=375MBH Low, 690MBH Hi.
    System = Early Dunham 2-pipe Vacuo-Vapor (inlet and outlet both at bottom of radiators) Traps are Dunham #2 rebuilt w. Barnes-Jones Cage Units, Dunham-Bush 1E, Mepco 1E, and Armstrong TS-2. All valves haveTunstall orifices sized at 8 oz.
    Current connected load EDR= 1,259 sq ft, Original system EDR = 2,100 sq ft Vaporstat, 13 oz cutout, 4 oz cutin - Temp. control Tekmar 279.
    http://grandviewdavenport.com