Former Steam Convert/ 2 Hot Water/pipe Sz

toolguyny

Ive encountered a system that was formerly steam, 1 1/2 black pipe, 2 line system. The old boiler was replaced in 2005 with a new hot water boiler, one of the old cast iron radiators was removed and a modern day baseboard was installed in its place. He says that puts out very little heat. Looking further I discovered that the system was leaking on both sides of the air scoup and the water pressure is zero. There is only 1 thermostate, its on the first floor, there is only 1 pump. Im going to have to cut pipes to put in a valve as there was not one installed on the supply side, obviously it needs a new auto-pressure water inlet valve with the pressure at zero. I read an article earlier on another site that suggests the added volume of water because the lines are 1 1/2 rather than 3/4 as they should be will substanstially shorten the life of the boiler, which makes sense to me as its going to have to run more to keep the higher volume of water hot. Input of knowledge from experience, anyone?

greghvacguy

1st going from steam to hot water there is alot of things to go wrong. the size of the pipes sould be ok seen that alot. you could have alot of slug in the pipes do to steam not moving it now that its water you moved it around clogging pipes. i would get the leaks fixed and psi at 12-15 and check the heat.