Worth switching from tube/fin to cast iron baseboards?

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jeffesonm

jeffesonm

Minister of Fire
May 29, 2012
862
central NJ
1800 sq ft house is plumbed with tube/fin baseboards, currently connected to Burnham MPO-IQ 84k BTU oil boiler. Orlan EKO 40 in the basement and 600+ gallons of storage tanks in the backyard, waiting for me to hook it all up. I just came across 70+ linear feet of Burnham Baseray cast iron baseboards.

Worth (eventually) switching the tube/fin out for cast iron baseboards? I was planning to switch to a constant circulation, ODR controlled system once the wood boiler is up and running.
 
I think it would be better to ADD the cast iron to what you already have, rather than replace them. The more heat emitters you have the lower temperature water you'll be able to use from your storage tank. That will make your cycle time between fires longer.

Of course, it might be tough to squeeze more baseboard into your interior. Maybe even harder to get it approved by the Minister of your Interior.
 
I am pretty maxed out on baseboard, in 1957 when the house was built they saw it fit to cover every exterior wall of every room. Something like 185' of baseboard for a 1800 sq ft house.
 
Grew up in a house with CI baseboard, and wish I had it now. All other comparisons aside the CI baseboards were silent, whereas the popping of cycling copper fin-tubes wakes me up at night.
 
If the goal is to even out temp swing then Burnham cast baseboard will help. If the goal is to put a lot more btus into the room look at Runtal steel radiators.
 
Yes, the CI baseboards were very slow on warming up a big old house in the AM, or after a vacation.
 
My sister-in-law switched her condo from nice cast iron baseboard radiators to Runtals a year ago. Last winter for the first time in years she was warm, in spite of a very cold winter.
 
That's a surprise. We never had any issue with the CI baseboards keeping that big old joint (my parents house) warm. They were just slower than most to raise the temp of a cold house, without any aid of forced air circulation. Maybe her problems were more related to age (mineral build-up and constriction) than design?
 
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