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July 31, 2009
source for new radiators?
Our apartment is completely overheated in the winter, and our radiators are also large. We'd like to replace them with smaller new (or stripped) radiators. I would love to get them myself, and then have a plumber install them.
Does anyone know where to get new or paint free radiators in Brooklyn? Thanks!
Comments
This brand is most readily available in our area:
http://www.GovernaleIndustries.com
If you see something you like there, you'll have to go to a plumbing supply store and have them order it for you.
Try Bruce Supply or Park Slope Supply.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at July 31, 2009 1:42 PM
Interesting. Can anyone buy something from a plumbing supply (ie not a plumber)?
Posted by: elisbrown at July 31, 2009 1:56 PM
elisbrown : As long as your money is green you can.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 31, 2009 2:03 PM
If you change the size of the radiators it will effect the heat in other apartments in the building. A plumber will need to go around to each radiator and change the steam vents as necessary.
Posted by: JoeBushwick at July 31, 2009 4:44 PM
you might want to consult a heating specialist or plumber with heating experience like gateway before buying new radiators...appropriate sizing in relationship to the rest of your building is pretty important..think of a steam heating system (which i am assuming that you have) as a big balloon..if you squeeze it in one place, it will become larger in another, i.e. you will be driving more heat to other areas of the building..it is a gestalt, where the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and you can really fuck things up by making changes that seem rational to you
Posted by: eman1234 at July 31, 2009 8:06 PM
OP, unless you have plumbing/heating knowledge and experience, leave the purchase to your plumber. Search the Forum archives for long and detailed discussions about heating issues, balancing systems, changing vent sizes, etc.
Posted by: vinca at July 31, 2009 8:58 PM
If you purchase a replacement (steam) that is similar in size to the original (size of fins / number of fins), shouldn't that work?
Posted by: SenatorStreet at August 1, 2009 10:50 AM
Radiator output is best expressed in square feet of equivalent direct radiation; the amount of surface area exposed to the room air.
Once you've got that value, either by manufacturer's literature or measuring height/tubes/sections, you need to know the temperature of the heating medium that will fill the radiator which is normally steam or hot water.
We all know steam is formed at atmospheric pressure at 212 degrees, but when we pressurize steam in a boiler its temperature at 1.5 psi rises to about 215 degrees (multiply by 240).
Circulating hot water systems are often designed to heat the water to 180 degrees (multiply by 170). Pressure is irrelevant to temperature rise in this system.
Using an established multiplier for that temperature and radiator's square footage, you will come up with the radiator's BTU output.
Yes, it's a process best left to those who do it regularly, but it's not rocket science and you can use this method to size a replacement radiator.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at August 1, 2009 4:58 PM
Thank Master Plvmber. Now the truth is out. I need to quickly run and calculate the output of my radiator. But how to calculate the area (squere footage) of radiator. I tried "brute force" integral by width of integral by height. But I tripped on the bottom part where two pieces connect.
I can try to paint it and divide volume of the spent paint on the thickness of the paint. But then my calculations could be off by far.
Oh I can weigh the radiator and divide it by the thickness of the walls.
Probably I can look at the pictures and find new radiator specs of the same size and assume they have the same area.
Or I can build a hear proof box around it, start the heating and measure heat output directly.
Seriously, how to calculate the area of existing radiator.
Posted by: bobjohn at August 1, 2009 11:38 PM
Well, what about the fact that I turn off all the radiators for the whole winter, since it's so hot in my apartment?? Doesn't this have a similar (or worse) effect than installing a smaller radiator?
I understand the need to buy the right sized radiator, but this building is crazy-- I have a room that is 10x10, with a radiator that is 4' long by 2' tall. It's way too big for a room that size, and it takes up most of a wall.
In any case, I think we're just going to get radiator covers for now, so I don't need to do this anymore.
Posted by: elisbrown at August 5, 2009 4:13 PM
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