We have electric baseboard heat now and I would like to convert to oil
heating system. I would like to know what is the fair price for installing a
new radiator system alone, _not_ including the furnace. I am thinking
whether I can do the pipe work myself and then have oil company to install
the furnace later. I don't have knowledge in heating system but I think I
can have two branches. One remains in the basement and another one for
upstair which look like the water pipe can go along the ceiling of the
basement and poke up to the floor above in places where radiators are needed
and then go down to the basement ceiling again. Is it something I can do
without a professional? TIA.

"chris" wrote in message
We have electric baseboard heat now and I would like to convert to oil
heating system. I would like to know what is the fair price for installing
a
new radiator system alone, _not_ including the furnace.

I have no idea.

I am thinking
whether I can do the pipe work myself and then have oil company to install
the furnace later. I don't have knowledge in heating system but I think I
can have two branches. One remains in the basement and another one for
upstair which look like the water pipe can go along the ceiling of the
basement and poke up to the floor above in places where radiators are
needed
and then go down to the basement ceiling again. Is it something I can do
without a professional? TIA.

Maybe, it is not fair straight forward. First, you have to know what size
baseboard you need. Each room will usually have one wall with the metal on
it for appearance, but only a portion may be needed with the actual finned
tubing. This has to be sized out first.

Next, how good are you at soldering in tight places? This is probably the
most difficult and critical parts of the job. Even if you have a pro do
that portion of the job, you can save by drilling the holes and mounting the
hardware.
Ed

"chris" wrote in message
We have electric baseboard heat now and I would like to convert to oil
heating system. I would like to know what is the fair price for installing
a
new radiator system alone, _not_ including the furnace.
I am thinking
whether I can do the pipe work myself and then have oil company to install
the furnace later. I don't have knowledge in heating system but I think I
can have two branches. One remains in the basement and another one for
upstair which look like the water pipe can go along the ceiling of the
basement and poke up to the floor above in places where radiators are
needed
and then go down to the basement ceiling again. Is it something I can do
without a professional? TIA.

There is more to it than just installing the radiators and running the
piping. Another poster mentioned proper sizing. Another tricky part
is getting the piping sloped (or not sloped in some cases) to make
sure the air bleeds are at the high spot, and there are no loops that
will trap air and cause the system to air lock. Basement radiators
where the piping is run above require special care to avoid airlocks.

If you are going to have multiple zones you have to decide if you will
have zone valves, multiple circulators, or passive flow splitting
tees. This greatly affects how you will do the plumbing: a big loop,
two loops, each area home run back to a manifold, etc.

See if your library has "Modern Hydronic Heating" by Siegenthaler.
Spend a few hours or days studying that and then decide if you are up
to the task. This is not a job you want to do or have done twice.

HTH,

Paul Franklin

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From: "chris"
Date: 10/21/2003 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: . net

We have electric baseboard heat now and I would like to convert to oil
heating system. I would like to know what is the fair price for installing a
new radiator system alone, _not_ including the furnace. I am thinking
whether I can do the pipe work myself and then have oil company to install
the furnace later. I don't have knowledge in heating system but I think I
can have two branches. One remains in the basement and another one for
upstair which look like the water pipe can go along the ceiling of the
basement and poke up to the floor above in places where radiators are needed
and then go down to the basement ceiling again. Is it something I can do
without a professional? TIA.


Have you even considered underfloor radiant heat?
http://www.radiantec.com/

Nothing beats being able to place your furniture wherever the hell you damn
please.