cast-iron radiators

• Can Heating System Handle New Radiators?

Every heating system installed in homes has a specific maximum heating capacity, which should be sized properly to heat most effectively. If the unit installed in your home is grossly oversized, it will waste energy and may cycle too infrequently to heat properly. If the unit is too small, it may just be able to currently heat the upper floors of your home, without the additional load of the basement. This can be evaluated by calling a licensed heating contractor familiar with hydronic systems to calculate the proper size of boiler required for your home and see if yours can handle the added living space. The next concern is with the addition of the radiators that you have bought. There are two main types of hydronic heating systems that use boilers. The most common for homes incorporat...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• October 15, 2009

• Using the Wrong Antifreeze Just Isn't Cool

OAT-based antifreeze (Organic Acid Technology) includes ingredients such as sebacate, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and other organic acids, but no silicates or phosphates (except for phosphates in Toyota's extended-life coolant). OAT-based coolants are usually dyed a different colour to distinguish them from traditional green antifreeze. GM OAT-based Dex-Cool is orange. Volkswagen/Audi uses pink dye but Honda extended-life OAT coolant is dyed dark green. OAT corrosion inhibitors are slower acting but last much longer, so service life is typically five years. OAT corrosion inhibitors provide excellent long-term protection for aluminum and cast iron, but may not protect copper/brass radiators and heater cores in older cooling systems. There are different combinations of additives in OAT ...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 20, 2009

• Aging Boiler Heats Upstairs More Than Down

One of the major drawbacks of most residential hot-water heating systems is the lack of control for various areas of the home, or zones. Most older systems were installed with only one thermostat and an "all or nothing" approach to heating. This means the boiler and circulation pump will either produce heat from all the radiators when operating, or stop when the thermostat is satisfied. If your basement is quite open, especially the area near the boiler, it may be possible to identify the individual heating pipes to isolate the ones going to the upper floor of your home. If the ceiling and pipes are covered or hidden inside basement or main-floor walls, access for upgrades may be very difficult. Also, if they are still the original iron pipes, it will require a skilled pipefitter to cut...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• March 11, 2010

• New Mall for Antiques Opens

What [Val Friesen] notices is that the shoppers are getting younger. "We have a lot of younger couples coming in. They've bought an old house and somebody's taken all the detail out of it, like the mouldings, and they want to put that character back in. Stained-glass restorer Dick Turnbull, who used to be at Old House about once a week to give estimates, has a full workshop on the second level. Customers can watch the 74-year-old work. "Sometimes (customers) have stained glass that needs repair," he says. "Others will say, 'I want something made to go with the age of the house.' Jane Western, another transferred dealer from the Village Antique Mall, sells vintage clothing such as Siwash and Mary Maxim sweaters. "I'm excited to be here," she says. "Anyone that's in this business loves ...

...The store does not handle old steam radiators, but operates a radiator "dating service" that con...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 21, 2009

• Weigh Options Carefully When Replacing Old Rads

... seen some interesting compact designer radiators online, especially from Europe, but local plumbing...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• January 09, 2012

• Don't Mess with Boiler, You May Get Burned

Regardless of this last point, any modifications to gas fired heating equipment such as your old boiler or a furnace should only be attempted by a licensed gasfitter. A hot water heating system is a pressurized system and homeowner modifications can be very dangerous. You may inadvertently cause damage the burner or other components when attempting to remove or replace the old refractory. These components are typically composed of ceramics or special firebrick held in place with special heat resistant mortar. Regular concrete blocks may not last very long without cracking from the heat of the flame. Also, modifications of pre-cast concrete will not be easy and may cause voids or small air pockets in the concrete, which could be a major safety hazard. If the air is heated inside a small ...

... cost-effective heating method once the radiators get up to operating temperature. I agree that the ...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 11, 2009