I have what looks to be a old steam boiler. Any recommendations? I was told that I needed about 100,000 btu's. I know that I will have to get the system size correctly to be sure. But I wanted to find out if there is any particular brands that are good before I start getting quotes. I personal would like to install forced air, but running all the duct work I really don't think I want to get into it.

You might think seriously about going forced air. Will you ever want central air? An easy addition with forced air, and you might have to go through the duct work for it. May as well get it over with. Just how old is the house, over 100 years? Back then, they ran 2 x 4's all the way from the foundation to the roof. As originally built, you could drop a rock from the attic to the basement. Newer houses have a floor over the joists extending out to the siding, and a plate at the floor, and a double plate at the ceiling, and the same thing on the second floor. Big pain to add ducts. See if the flooring extends clear out to the outside of the foundation, or if somebody has added boards at the edge to hold insulation.

Hard to say on brands. Find a dealer or installer you think you can trust and go with their recommendations. I ended up with a Bryant about 8 years ago, and am fairly happy with it. Did get stuck with a $300 control board, but blame that on lightning.

As for size, there are guidelines for the size of the house, even code. Go a little bigger with old windows and little insulation. If you have splurged on windows and insulation, you can skimp on a furnace.

Yes the house was built in the 1920's I will try that rock method and see what happens. If it is as you migh t think I will go with the forced air. I haven't tested the old unit yet but I was assuming it wasn't working since it looks very old and might not be to energy saver. I bought it from a bank, someone went belly up and there was not much information on the house. I also thought about hot water baseboard which I thought might be easier to do since the copper pipe is thin and I can get it up to the second floor with no problem. Temps reach about as low a 5 degree's would that type of system give enough heat with those outside temps. I trying to do most of the work myself and just contract the final connections.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Glenn01

Yes the house was built in the 1920's I will try that rock method and see what happens. If it is as you migh t think I will go with the forced air. I havent tested the old unit yet but I was assuming it wasnt working since it looks very old and might not be to energy saver. I bought it from a bank, someone went belly up and there was not much information on the house. I also thought about hot water baseboard which I thought might be easier to do since the copper pipe is thin and I can get it up to the second floor with no problem. Temps reach about as low a 5 degree's would that type of system give enough heat with those outside temps. I trying to do most of the work myself and just contract the final connections.

Thanks

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steam heating creat a little noise but put out the heat very quick; water base board heat no noise and the heatis slow but steady... If the original boiler is rate at 100000 BTU and the house is as old as your then increase the new boiler at least 10% ( insulation do loose its effectiveness as it age)... you could heat any thing with hotwater... if you go with hot water; install 2 pipe system. So you could control temp of each room... and make sure all pipes are insulate...