We have a 3 story 1880s house in New England with a lovely old gravity hot water system. All is well. For now.
But...we are about to embark on a renovation that will enlarge the kitchen from 12 x 18' ---to---> 17 x 23' AND add a mudroom/back entry that will be 120 square feet. We will be enhancing the insulation from pretty much non existent (back plastered walls) up to code and adding a few windows, though all the windows will be energy efficient.
The current kitchen has two radiators. The larger of the two we hope to simply move. The small radiator we would like to exchange for a different shaped radiator to fit under a banquette (I think the new-to-us squat radiator is actually bigger/will do more radiating but I admit I have not figured out how to calculate this).
Questions:
1. Can we just switch out one radiator for a larger one with the same basic piping and expect it all to continue working or is that hopelessly naive?
2. Are two radiators enough (bigger one will be just where the mudroom enters the kitchen, new to us squat radiator on same side in the eating area leaving the other side of the room without a radiator)? ie might the improved insulation offset the larger square footage? how do I calculate that?
3. Should I add a third radiator? Which is to say, can I just add additional first floor radiators without creating a problem?
4. Do I need to "zone this area"? nothing in our house is zoned. We just turn down the 3rd floor radiators to ensure it is not too hot upstairs and it all works pretty well.
Advice appreciated before we believe the first plumber who has a plan, whether or not he has sufficient experience to make this work.
But...we are about to embark on a renovation that will enlarge the kitchen from 12 x 18' ---to---> 17 x 23' AND add a mudroom/back entry that will be 120 square feet. We will be enhancing the insulation from pretty much non existent (back plastered walls) up to code and adding a few windows, though all the windows will be energy efficient.
The current kitchen has two radiators. The larger of the two we hope to simply move. The small radiator we would like to exchange for a different shaped radiator to fit under a banquette (I think the new-to-us squat radiator is actually bigger/will do more radiating but I admit I have not figured out how to calculate this).
Questions:
1. Can we just switch out one radiator for a larger one with the same basic piping and expect it all to continue working or is that hopelessly naive?
2. Are two radiators enough (bigger one will be just where the mudroom enters the kitchen, new to us squat radiator on same side in the eating area leaving the other side of the room without a radiator)? ie might the improved insulation offset the larger square footage? how do I calculate that?
3. Should I add a third radiator? Which is to say, can I just add additional first floor radiators without creating a problem?
4. Do I need to "zone this area"? nothing in our house is zoned. We just turn down the 3rd floor radiators to ensure it is not too hot upstairs and it all works pretty well.
Advice appreciated before we believe the first plumber who has a plan, whether or not he has sufficient experience to make this work.