I'm about to have my bathroom remodeled. The original radiator is an old
cast iron "accordion" (if that's an appropriate term). It will have to be
removed for demolition of the existing room. Instead of re-using it, I'm
considering replacing it with a 4' cast iron baseboard during the remodel
for a neater look and to open up some space.

The bathroom is about 7' x 7' with a 10' ceiling. Any opinions as to
whether I should keep what I have or switch to the baseboard??

If you need more info, let me know.


Thanks,
Ray

Remove NO and SPAM to reply

Is it steam or hot water?

If steam, stick with the original, If hot water keep the same heat
ratings. Probably need a contractor to tell that. Otherwise your
temperature balance will be off compared to the rest of the house.

Stretch

"Stretch" wrote in message
ups.com...
Is it steam or hot water?

If steam, stick with the original, If hot water keep the same heat
ratings. Probably need a contractor to tell that. Otherwise your
temperature balance will be off compared to the rest of the house.

Stretch

Maybe, depending on the type of baseboard used. Cast iron radiators retain
heat for a while after the circulator stops and the room will continue to
absorb that heat. Fin and tube baseboard does not have the mass and cools
quickly. Cast iron baseboard is much closer to the performance of the ci
radiators and should be used if you do make the change. You can also find
information that allows you to estimate the Btu output of your existing
radiators for comparison.
http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator.htm

They also point out: In fact, when they were built most houses with cast
iron radiators weren't very well insulated and often didn't have storm
windows. Since then many have had energy saving improvements so the total
radiator heating capacity is now much greater than the minimum needed
according to the building's actual heat loss.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

...Cast iron radiators retain heat for a while after the circulator stops
and the room will continue to absorb that heat.

More to the point, they may keep somebody warm by actual radiation after
the pump stops. Then again, the wall above a baseboard fin tube could do
that too.

Fin and tube baseboard does not have the mass and cools quickly.
Cast iron baseboard is much closer to the performance of the ci
radiators and should be used if you do make the change.

I doubt that would make much difference.

You can also find information that allows you to estimate the Btu output
of your existing radiators for comparison.
http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator.htm

Along with a little vague disinformation...

Cast iron radiators heat up slowly and cool down slowly to give
very gentle, even, radiant heating. Since the 50's less expensive
copper finned convectors and baseboard have come to predominate
but the heating is harsher more of an "all on," "all off" effect.
Along with these and other, even newer forms of heating, Burnham
Cast Iron Radiators and Cast Iron Baseboard are still available
at Colonial...

Whaddya know... The SELL cast iron radiators :-)

Nick

wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

...Cast iron radiators retain heat for a while after the circulator stops
and the room will continue to absorb that heat.

More to the point, they may keep somebody warm by actual radiation after
the pump stops. Then again, the wall above a baseboard fin tube could do
that too.

My experience contradicts that. The mass of some sheetrock and paint does
not have the heat holding capacity of 100 pounds of cast iron.



Fin and tube baseboard does not have the mass and cools quickly.
Cast iron baseboard is much closer to the performance of the ci
radiators and should be used if you do make the change.

I doubt that would make much difference.

What makes you doubt that? I have real life experience in this. Do you?


http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator.htm

Along with a little vague disinformation...

Cast iron radiators heat up slowly and cool down slowly to give
very gentle, even, radiant heating. Since the 50's less expensive
copper finned convectors and baseboard have come to predominate
but the heating is harsher more of an "all on," "all off" effect.
Along with these and other, even newer forms of heating, Burnham
Cast Iron Radiators and Cast Iron Baseboard are still available
at Colonial...

Whaddya know... The SELL cast iron radiators :-)

So, just because they sell a product they give mis-information? Again, give
me some facts to back up your doubts. IMO, you would rather just cast doubt
in this case rather that give real life examples and experience. I'm
speaking from the experience in working for a manufacturer of fin and tube
heating, but at the same time using cast iron because it performs best in a
radiator replacement to avoid mixing materials. I now longer own the house,
but it is in Philly if you'd like to pop over and make some measurements.
I'm sure the new owner will be happy to have you.

FWIW, I used the calculations from the Colonial web page to size a heating
system in a conversion from steam to hot water in a portion of a building.
Judging from performance, it is very accurate.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
wrote in message
...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:


...Cast iron radiators retain heat for a while after the circulator stops
and the room will continue to absorb that heat.

More to the point, they may keep somebody warm by actual radiation after
the pump stops. Then again, the wall above a baseboard fin tube could do
that too.


My experience contradicts that. The mass of some sheetrock and paint does
not have the heat holding capacity of 100 pounds of cast iron.



Fin and tube baseboard does not have the mass and cools quickly.
Cast iron baseboard is much closer to the performance of the ci
radiators and should be used if you do make the change.

I doubt that would make much difference.


What makes you doubt that? I have real life experience in this. Do you?



http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator.htm

Along with a little vague disinformation...

Cast iron radiators heat up slowly and cool down slowly to give
very gentle, even, radiant heating. Since the 50's less expensive
copper finned convectors and baseboard have come to predominate
but the heating is harsher more of an "all on," "all off" effect.
Along with these and other, even newer forms of heating, Burnham
Cast Iron Radiators and Cast Iron Baseboard are still available
at Colonial...

Whaddya know... The SELL cast iron radiators :-)


So, just because they sell a product they give mis-information? Again, give
me some facts to back up your doubts. IMO, you would rather just cast doubt
in this case rather that give real life examples and experience. I'm
speaking from the experience in working for a manufacturer of fin and tube
heating, but at the same time using cast iron because it performs best in a
radiator replacement to avoid mixing materials. I now longer own the house,
but it is in Philly if you'd like to pop over and make some measurements.
I'm sure the new owner will be happy to have you.

FWIW, I used the calculations from the Colonial web page to size a heating
system in a conversion from steam to hot water in a portion of a building.
Judging from performance, it is very accurate.

There ya go. Muddying the waters with a bunch of facts.

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

...Cast iron radiators retain heat for a while after the circulator stops
and the room will continue to absorb that heat.

More to the point, they may keep somebody warm by actual radiation after
the pump stops. Then again, the wall above a baseboard fin tube could do
that too.

My experience contradicts that. The mass of some sheetrock and paint does
not have the heat holding capacity of 100 pounds of cast iron.

....100 pounds of iron can store 12 Btu/F, like 24 ft^2 of 1/2" drywall.
Then we can add a sink, a shower, tiles on the wall at 0.16 Btu/lb-F,
a floor, a toilet containing 5 gallons of water (40 Btu/F), a bathroom
cabinet, and maybe a cast iron tub, and more.

You are wrong. You might simply admit it, and move on.

Nick

wrote in message

...100 pounds of iron can store 12 Btu/F, like 24 ft^2 of 1/2" drywall.
Then we can add a sink, a shower, tiles on the wall at 0.16 Btu/lb-F,
a floor, a toilet containing 5 gallons of water (40 Btu/F), a bathroom
cabinet, and maybe a cast iron tub, and more.

You are wrong. You might simply admit it, and move on.

Nick

That stuff would be in the room anyway so there is no difference in that
portion. We are talking the difference between CI baseboard and finned
copper tubing. You should know better with your education.