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Posted by HeatPro on August 30, 2004 at 18:57:45:
In Reply to: questions about hot water system posted by john on August 28, 2004 at 20:00:15:
: I have an oil fired Weil McLain P768 boiler (the tag says "770 sq ft steam, 185 mbh steam, 284 BTU/hr water". my 3 story house heat loss is about 180,000 btu.
: *can I use same boiler to switch to hot water system?
*** As the boiler is rated at 284 Mbtuh water it can be changed to hot water trim and used for hot water heat.
: If not, can I use same boiler only for first floor (70K btu loss) and then install separate boilers for 2nd and 3rd stories (separate dwelling units)
*** The boiler would be too oversized for one story of the house alone. You would install separate new boilers per floor.
: *I will have one circulator for first floor and my supply trunk for first floor will be at basement ceiling throughut. some of my branch piping will go thru an unheated crawlspace in basement to get to radiators above. Right now it is one-pipe steam, but later it will be full of water. Should I be concerned about freezing and what can I do to prevent freezing on very cold days (other than pipe insulation).
*** If you insulate the lines and as the boiler would be used for heat, the lines should stay warm while heating the rooms and not freeze.
: *I read somewhere to keep water circulating at all times in the supply trunk line, but I forget why. is that a recommended practice and if so, why.
*** Sometimes, you can set up the system to have water always circulating, but that is just one of several ways to design a system.