Hot Water System With Radiators

Paul B

I have removed hundreds of these systems and replaced with hot water baseboard over the years. I have a customer that wants a new systems installed using radiators. Another contractor told me there is a pipe that can be used instead of iron or copper. Anyone know what it is? I assume it is plastic. I guess it could be used for baseboard as well.

22rifle

Doesn't your heating contractor know what you are talking about?

He should.

Paul B

Have not talked to anyone yet, just heard about this this evening.

22rifle

What kind of radiators?

He may be talking about PEX.

Paul B

These radiators are ancient looking things like the ones my father and I ripped out and replaced with baseboard years ago. I have a HVAC contractor who is willing to do the job but will not garrentee his work using those old radiators. The home owner is buying the radiators at a place called second time around, I called them, they are sold as is. I inquired about pressure testing them prior to purchase and they refuse. The contractor says it can be ran with CPVC pipe, I don't have much faith in this guy but he is the only one that would come look at the job using radiators which are so old. Have any of you guys used CPVC for hot water systems?

22rifle

NO!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT let your guy use CPVC for this. Man, just hearing this makes my blood boil. For a supposed professional to make a claim like that is disgusting. The guy is a hack, and idiot, and a fool. GRRRRRRR!

OK, with that out of the way, there are many fine pros who will guarantee everything except the radiator itself. Go ask about this issue on www.heatinghelp.com. They might be able to put you in touch with a real pro who can do this for you.

But don't let that CPVC hack onto your property again. No matter what, if he is that stupid, you don't want him on your property.

mdshunk

You or your guy needs to get ahold of the EDR book to calculate what radiators need used where. I'm not even sure how your customer can even buy them without knowing about the heating requirements of each room and the EDR numbers for the radiators he/she's purchasing.

http://store.bnpmedia.com/store/aec_...see/index.html

flashheatingand

Why not? I haven't had any "real" hydronic experience so I am not questioning your stance. My guess: the reason is that the plastic can't handle the higher temps. I'll admit, idiot is in my blood-work, and I would think it would be ok but I have never been in a position to consider how to pipe such a system either. Please forgive my ignorance.

mdshunk

Your choices are black iron, copper, and orange PEX. CPVC is nowhere on the radar.

MALCO.New.York

Hell!!! IN New York you can purchase the Old Style Iron Radiators new!!! For less then Second Time 'Round!

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

22rifle

It ain't stupid to ask why. What is stupid is passing yourself off as a heating contractor and suggesting CPVC as an option like the moron I blasted did.

CPVC cannot handle the kind of temps a hydronic heat system requires for a sustained period of time. I have seen it used like this. It caused over $23,000 worth of damage to the home when it failed. Failure came in less than 6 months of heating.

22rifle

Orange PEX?

thom

I thought the old cast iron radiators were strictly steam heat. Are you guys saying that those same radiators can be used for hot-water heat also? It'd be interesting to see how that works, especially in a single pipe system.

MALCO.New.York

I assume he means ThermaPex for Radiant Heat Systems!

Or Pex-Al-Pex??????? What ever that is!!! (multilayer pex)





http://www.blueridgecompany.com/radi...ulitlayer-pipe

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

mdshunk

PEX with the oxygen barrier is typically orange in color. Without the oxygen barrier, the oxygen will permeate the tubing and that prematurely rusts the boiler sections.

22rifle

I have installed miles of barrier PEX and the only stuff that was orange (as opposed to red or clear/white) was Kitec. That's why I didn't understand what you meant.

mdshunk

Geographic differences then, I suppose. The only P-A-P PEX I've seen from any manufacturer has been orange in color. No big deal. I know the EVOH PEX can be any color under the sun. I suspect that's what you've been using?

MALCO.New.York

Just for the record..........There is, on the same site, an oxygen barrier, multi layer pex that IS black in color.

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

22rifle

Likely a UV resistant tube but it may not be.

22rifle

Oh, you meant P-A-P? Yeah, some of it is orange but not near all of it.