Cast Iron Radiator Heating Capacity Guide
Page 2 - Looking at a Radiator
There are three general classifications of radiators found in
older homes: Column Type, Tube Type and Wall
Type. More recently cast iron 9" tall baseboard has been
available. First, this guide will demonstrate how to identify
and find the EDR ratings for floor standing column and tube type
radiators which are what most of us think of first when we think
of "radiators". Wall type radiators will be discussed
afterwards.
Column Type |
Tube Type |
Wall Type |
A traditional cast iron column or tube type radiator is described
and measured in terms of:
- HEIGHT in inches
- Number of SECTIONS As you stand in front of a radiator it
almost looks like a loaf of bread. Each cast iron slice is called
a section.
- Number of TUBES or COLUMNS. As you look at a radiator from
the narrow end you can tell that each of the above slices or
sections is made up of 1 or more vertical columns or tubes.
The real old ones are about 2 1/2" wide and they are called
COLUMNS. In "newer" radiators these vertical cast
iron pipes are only about 1 1/2" wide and are called TUBES
Right! We really don't care about a floor standing radiator's overall
width or depth. So go ahead. Jot down the number of tubes and sections
and the height of every radiator.
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5 Tubes, 7 Sections
|
2 Columns, 7 Sections |
Check the next page's table to get the Square feet EDR of one
section of each radiator. Then multiply that by the number of
sections in the radiator and you'll have the Square Foot EDR rating
of that radiator. Multiply that total by either 170 Btus per hour
(hot water systems) or 240 Btus per hour (steam systems) to get
the design heating capacity of that one radiator. Do the same
for all the radiators in that system. The sum of all these heating
capacities is a home's total radiation heating demand on its boiler.
Any Questions ?
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