I have a gas heated steam heat boiler system with 1 1/4″ copper verticle risers from the main feed in the basement to supply each radiator separately. My question – is it ok to plan to share radiators from one riser, either teeing off to two separate radiators in adjacent rooms or sharing a common verticle riser to branch off to supply two radiators, one above the other? I am adding a couple of new radiators to heat additional rooms in my addition, and this would save me from running risers from the basement up thru 2 floors for two small(bathroom) rooms. I have seen older existing homes here in Maryland with this “sharing” and wonder if anyone has encountered any problems with this.All radiators have the relief valve and redrain fine back to the boiler.
Thanks for you input
tz
Replies
Are you saying that every radiator has a 1 1/4 inch riser? Are we talking about old cast iron radiators? In the old way of doing things they oversized everthing. Copper indicates that this is a repair or retro-fit. If this was a repair or replacement, it was probable that it was installed at the minimum size. If this is true you probably don't have the capacity to tie into the existing risers. Not enough information! Luck
boiler is a Williamson 180.000btu gas @ 3 yrs old replacing the old similiar boiler from house. Copper and all pipes seem to be around the age of the house @ 50 yrs as there was no rebuilding done during this time. (old bath and kitchen was all old copper in good working condition). Main horizontal feed line in bsmt is all 2" copper from boiler to return with normal relief valves in line at end. Tees off the 2" line are 1 1/4" to the cast iron narrow (@4" wide) radiators size from @ 2' to 52 " long depending on room size. Not a big house so only 1rst and second floors, 5 on first floor, currently 5 on second floor, would like 2 more on 2nd floor. single line ( steam and return water) system.
hope this gives more info
Thanks
Tom
You might want to ask this over at "the wall" at http://www.heatinghelp.com
They specialize in steam and hot water heating systems.