Why would you want to remove such a good heating system? Steam if properly set up is very inexpensive to use and can heat a home quite well. But to answer your question you would need to consider much more then just converting the radiator into a water unit. Steam carries much more BTU's then hot water. The result would be if you converted the steam radiator into a water radiator would be less heat output. While that may not be such a bad thing if in fact the radiator that is in each room is oversized, but more times then not you cannot get enough heat output from the radiator when you convert to water. Also because the steam unit gets much hotter, the result is a longer cool down period once the boiler shuts off. With hot water the radiator will cool down faster as it will not get neary as hot as with steam. The result is the room will cool down quicker thus requre the boiler to turn on more often. AS far as prices to convert, there are way to many things we would need to consider before providing such a cost. some of these items would be lenght of run from each radiator back to boiler as hot water needs to be pumped from boiler to radiator then back again. Can the radiator be converted? Most have pluggs that can be removed, but with older radiators, many have cracked the castings while trying to remove these plugs to put return pipe in. You also need to convert the boiler over to pump type of system. Pumps, valves, controls all get quite expensive. But you will find it is about the same cost as putting in a new system. But again based on size of home, construction etc.
Posts: 1435 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 31 January 2006
Many would kill for steam heat. It is by far the healthiest for you and has the added benefit of acting as a built in humidifer in the winter months. I would say hydronic would be next in line with forced air in last place.
Posts: 59 | Location: NW New Jersey | Registered: 13 June 2007
A heat loss calc should be done. And then th2 rads measured to see if they are large enough to output that much heat using hot water instead of steam. There is about a 35% loss in BTU output per sq ft of rad surface area when converting from steam to hot water.
If you convert to hot water, you can take advantage of an outdoor reset control, and reduce your heating cost.
A pound of 212°F steam contains a lot more heat then a pound of 212°F water.
New pipes have to be ran on single pipe systems. The rad steam vents have to be plugged. And new vents have to be drilled and tapped.
A lot of people don't like hot air blowing on them, or the sudden hot then cold feeling an improperly installed forced hot air system can cause ____________________________________________________________________ debt settlement services | Gucci Bags | Portrait from photo
Steam probably runs in a single-pipe system, in that the steam supply and the condensed water return can run in the same pipe...steam on top, 'cause it's hot, and condensed water below, because it's relatively cool.
To convert means probably ripping out all piping, and installing separate supply and return lines, and somehow converting the radiators to hot water, because they have very different venting requirements. And then installing a hot water boiler to replace the steam boiler.
A good steam system kept well-tuned is a wonder. Why would anyone "hate" it?
Architect (NY) and Home Designer (PA)
Posts: 2858 | Location: Tobyhanna, PA | Registered: 24 October 2005
