Heating Help

I'm restoring an old one-room schoolhouse and I'm trying to decide on a heating system. Because the heat-loss will be very high, (16ft ceilings, unisulated brick walls, lots of single pane windows) I'd like to heat primarly with a woodstove, but I need back-up system also. I'm thinking the back-up should respond very quickly since it will only be on for short periods. Forced air is out of the question, I can't stand it. I was thinking radiant floor or hot water with old radiators but that takes a long time to heat up. Which leads me to steam. I have heard that steam is less efficient than hot water, but would that be true in this case, where it's only on for a couple hours at a time? Does this make any sense? Any help or ideas appreciated.

I've done that

You still can build a steam system. Your ideas are good. Where are you located? Noel

how about a gas-fired unit heater or ceiling hung radiant panels.

Steam will work great

the only thing is, you have to have a basement to put the boiler in. I've designed and installed steam too. If the boilers are similar and the systems are in good shape, a steam system will equal the comfort and approach the efficiency of hot water. To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

I don't have a basement. I guess a steam boiler has to be below the radiators right? How much lower would it have to be?

What if he went with downfed radiators and a condensate pump?

...in a pit...I know it may be more involved than he wants to get, but that would work too, right guys? Mad Dog To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Wouldn't need the pit

if the radiators are above the tank inlet. Noel

Right, but that's if he doesn't mind........

wall hung radiators...hey we've seen alot of them in the old houses, right noel? MD To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"

Why not...

put the boiler on the main level, and as Noel and MD says, place a receiver and necessary accourtements below the boiler to manage the condensate. Small pit, minimal access needed. Yeah, it's more of a PITA then it would be if it were all gravity, but what they hey, it is STEAM!! Talk about the ultimate application for a drop header! Just thinking out loud here (maybe a little too loudly)... His obvious alternative would be to go high temp hydronics. Same feel, just a different system. Still looks antiquish. ME

What are high temp hydronics? Your joking about the drop header right? Thanks for the input so far. P.S. I'm a cabinetmaker by trade so speak english :)

Hydronics

High temp hydronics would be hot water (say 180° - 190°F) instead of steam. Use CI radiators and it'll look like a steam system but for two pipes to each rad vs one. It should heat about as fast as a steam system, though the radiators would need to be slightly bigger, as the water'd be cooler.

High temp

The regular boiler is low temp which means less that 250 degrees by code. So you can design up to 240 degrees if you choose, The old IBR schools used to call these micro tube systems where smaller copper tubing could be used to supply the baseboard. The higher temp makes up for lower flow. So you can run high temp, some noise expansion issues to be dealt with but it can be done. I think this is better suited to your needs than a steam system which would need to come up to temp before giving heat.

anticipator setting

can anyone help me out? I have a weil mclain SGo6 oil fireed steam boiler? A two pipe system. Where should the anticipator be set wide open because it is steam or to the matched setting? Thanks Paul

Controversial subject

I like to start with the rated thermostat current, and if the system is slow I like to find out why rather than reset for a longer cycle. But sometimes a longer cycle is needed even after the system is tuned up. To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"