1. Welcome Hearth.com Guests and Visitors - Please enjoy our forums!
    Hearth.com GOLD Sponsors who help bring the site content to you:
    Jotul Cast Iron Stoves
    Woodstock Soapstone Stoves
    Hearth and Home (QuadraFire and Harman Stoves)
  1. ozzie88 Member

    joined: May 13, 2011
    197 posts
    maine
    My friend and i are talking about the old steam radiaters for hot water heat? I dont think they will work that good and if so would you have to hook them up in a way so water would go threw them top to bottom? He seems to think a pipe in bottom one end and out other will work??
    Anybody use these for hot water heat??
    #1

    Helpful Sponsor Ads!



  2. tom in maine Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 4, 2008
    610 posts
    Searsport, Maine
    They do work well.
    You need to pressure test them since they can be corroded.
    I converted an old steam system to forced hot water in a huge old house. Installed thermostatic valves on each radiator and
    used an outdoor reset control to run the system.
    Saved a lot of oil and prevented the radiators from overheating smaller rooms.

    Radiators were originally used in solid fuel systems and were outputting an even lower temp heat continuously.
    Once the old solid fuel systems were converted to oil or gas, they would overheat and underheat as the system fired. An outdoor reset control and
    individual radiator thermostats eliminates that problem.
  3. ewdudley Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 17, 2009
    1,182 posts
    Cayuga County NY
    They work great, in the bottom on one side and out the bottom on the other side.

    But beware, there are two types of steam radiators. Some have all the sections joined where flow can go across the top. But others are not connected by orifices across the top. The ones without the connections across the top won't work well, if at all.

    Google in google images for steam radiators and you can see the two types.
  4. goosegunner Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 15, 2009
    1,078 posts
    WI
    I bought 12 of the Corto style made American Radiator Company. They weigh over 3000 lbs total average price $26/each. I will add them eventually to system.

    I just need to stop bleeding money on my system for now......

    gg
  5. BoilerMan Minister of Fire

    joined: Apr 16, 2012
    973 posts
    Northern Maine
    Wow, that is a great deal!!! I wish I could find some for that price around here! I need four is anyone has some extra ;)

Share This Page