Hot Water or Steam … how to tell ???
Friends,
My sister just purchased a house near Baltimore that has an ancient oil fired ( converted from coal ) heating system. She is going to replace the boiler and has had a couple of guys out for estimates. One guy said it was steam, one said hot water, and one did not know 🙁 I was up for the first time today and took a look at the system. It has radiators but no circulating pump or expansion tank. The boiler has a plate on the front that reads water pressure 15 lb, steam 45 lb. I didn’t think to get a pic of it, I had my camera with me.
My question is how to tell which system she has, and if it really matters if it’s getting replaced anyway ? Will the radiators work with either hot water or steam or are they different for each system ?
Thanks,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Replies
in my experience with old houses-
steam radiators have 1 pipe into them
hot water have 2
the steam condenses in the radiator, and drains down the same pipe it came in back to the furnace
hot water circulates thru the radiator, and into the return pipe (and frequently to the next radiator)
You might want to ask over there.
http://www.heatinghelp.com/
They specialize in all types of hydronic heating.
A steam boiler will (should) have a sight glass.
A hot water system may or may not have a pump.
A gravity hot water system may have the expansion tank at the highest point in the system.
A steam rad is for steam only. (Usually, odd exception)
A hot water rad can be (sometimes) used for steam.
A steam system may be a one pipe or a two pipe system.
A hot water system can be a one or two pipe system.
Still confused?
Anybody that isn't sure what type of system he is looking at should be thanked for coming.
Screwing these up can and does kill people.
Edited 7/23/2006 9:59 pm ET by rich1
Thanks Rich,
That is what I told my Sister, if they dont know what type of system it is, tell them thanks for looking and leave it at that. I am going to go up and get some more details on the system later this week. I am betting it is original to the house, hich was built in 1930 !Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
If you can get Steamhead, he's your man.
(The internet makes for a small world.)
Bill,
Thanks for the link !
Rich,
Steamhead sent me an e-mail and I have forwarded his info to my Sister. He sounds like "the man" for her heating system.
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Further, a steam radiator will generally have an air release valve on one end, near the top. (Looks like a miniature train steam whistle.)
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
Unless it is a two pipe system, with a steam trap.
Some steam rads have an air vent half way up, some at the top, and some hot water rads have an air vent at the top.
Some steam vents look like whistles or bullets, while some look like a hot water coin vent.
You might even find a hot water system that used the rads as the expansion tank.
Isn't steam and hydronics fun?
Edited 7/23/2006 10:27 pm ET by rich1
Edited 7/23/2006 10:29 pm ET by rich1