Stick With Existing Boiler?
We are doing a complete gut renovation on a brownstone, unfortunately on a tight budget. Our contractor has recommended that in an effort to save money, we use our relatively new boiler and simply re-install radiators and refill system. Does that sound like a good way to save money or do you think we should…
We are doing a complete gut renovation on a brownstone, unfortunately on a tight budget. Our contractor has recommended that in an effort to save money, we use our relatively new boiler and simply re-install radiators and refill system. Does that sound like a good way to save money or do you think we should do hydronic forced hot air and cut costs somewhere else?
Most sound advice from brucef. Gas hot water with as many zones as possible. This is a gut renovation, I would also get rid of the steam boiler and install two wall hung combi units (heat and hot water) one for you and one for the tenant.
You will be ahead of the game in as little as 4-5 years considering that you will only be paying for your usage and you can regulate your heat based on when and where you need it.
Considering that this is a gut renovation, provided you have the room inside either of the apartments, you can save a bundle on the installation by bringing your main water and gas risers directly into the apartment, installing the boiler inside a closet and branching off from there. A 28″ closet will be more than ample for the combi boiler.
Separating the water lines will also allow you to bill the tenant via a sub meter for their own water consumption.
You should also provide a shut off valve in the basement so as to enable you to shut off the tenants water in the event of a leak when the tenant is out.
Removing the steam pipes and bringing the lines into the apartments will also eliminate the obstructions from the ceiling in the basement.
Good luck,
MP,
Wouldn’t the tappings on the front section be different on a water vs steam boiler?
-Steam Man
I didn’t know that MP!
You can use a steam boiler to make one or several hydronic heat heating zones, including radiant floor heating.
Re: benefits of forced heat, you might want to consider hydronic radiant heat for the same benefits plus no air blowing around, no dust, no ducts, etc.
But you can’t use a steam boiler to do any kind of hydronic heating, right? So I’m totally confused…
cmu,
No. And yes, but I really would *strongly* suggest you do not, especially on a one pipe system. No bueno, no bueno….
-Steam Man
Can you even use a steam boiler for hydronic heat?
Or zone a steam system?
Thanks for all the thorough responses. Just to clarify – what we have is a 4 year old steam boiler, truly the only salvageable part of the house. The system that’s been suggested to us would zone the heat for the bottom 2 floors which will be our garden rental and parlor floor together (which is another issue for us as we were hoping to keep the tenants completely separate from us) and then the top 2 floors. The reason I found the hydronic force air so attractive is because of the removal of radiators and the ability to zone (and thereby keep tenants on a separate hating system)
We made a similar cost-benefit analysis, and sprung for hydronic radiant heat, which we are currently running off our older but still fine natural gas hydronic boiler (about the only thing in the house worth keeping). In a couple of years we’ll have funds to upgrade to a solar thermal system with a smaller mod/con boiler.
Just wondering why anyone would want forced air, I have always disliked it myself.