My 85 year old home originally had a steam boiler. The former owner in the early 80s converted it to gas hot water. The original cast iron radiators are in place, as are the original steam races that circumnavigate the basement at a height just above my head.
I have a plan to have these pipes removed and replaced with PEX so that they can be run through the joist bays and I can finish the basement. At the same time I'd like to add a second zone for the 2nd and 3rd floors (currently the entire house is on one thermostat). All the first-floor radiators, and it seems, most if not all of the 2nd and 3rd floor ones, have individual supply and return pipes to the basement. I imagine for steam heat regulation this was a requirement, since there are steam valves still in place on the radiators (most stuck wide open), and no evident bypass lines/valves.
I've had a number of HVAC firms come in - some have refused, others have sounded hesitant and bid accordingly, and one gentleman - a licensed plumber and licensed HVAC guy, bonded and insured, is willing to go forward with the work at what seems to be a reasonable price. He has a design to use 1 1/4" copper mains and branch PEX off of them in order to maintain circulation. I'm impressed with his knowledge and he has done other work for me that I have been pleased with (mostly system repairs).
Without critiquing his design, I'm wondering if anyone out there has done a similar project and can let me know about the potential pitfalls of this "major surgery". How risky is this job? I would really like to clean up the basement and have better temperature control upstairs (we've already insulated and air-sealed btw) but would just like to know what the risk of major trouble is if we embark on this project.
Thanks-
Jim
I have a plan to have these pipes removed and replaced with PEX so that they can be run through the joist bays and I can finish the basement. At the same time I'd like to add a second zone for the 2nd and 3rd floors (currently the entire house is on one thermostat). All the first-floor radiators, and it seems, most if not all of the 2nd and 3rd floor ones, have individual supply and return pipes to the basement. I imagine for steam heat regulation this was a requirement, since there are steam valves still in place on the radiators (most stuck wide open), and no evident bypass lines/valves.
I've had a number of HVAC firms come in - some have refused, others have sounded hesitant and bid accordingly, and one gentleman - a licensed plumber and licensed HVAC guy, bonded and insured, is willing to go forward with the work at what seems to be a reasonable price. He has a design to use 1 1/4" copper mains and branch PEX off of them in order to maintain circulation. I'm impressed with his knowledge and he has done other work for me that I have been pleased with (mostly system repairs).
Without critiquing his design, I'm wondering if anyone out there has done a similar project and can let me know about the potential pitfalls of this "major surgery". How risky is this job? I would really like to clean up the basement and have better temperature control upstairs (we've already insulated and air-sealed btw) but would just like to know what the risk of major trouble is if we embark on this project.
Thanks-
Jim