Baseboard hot-water heat

[Dave24]

I had 4 castiron radiators that I want to replace with copper fin baseboard as I remodel the basement. I have a 7 foot ceiling and 30x48 basement. The easiest layout requires a loop around the perimeter of the basement along the ceiling dropping down to the baseboard and back up as needed. The loop would require a drop to baseboard level and then back to ceiling height 4 times. Currently, the basement zone has a 1\25 HP cartridge circulator. Will this work for the above desribed loop? If not, what do I need?

[arkayassoc]

I think it should work fine. The smooth walled copper tubing will have much less flow resistance than the old cast iron rad's. If your concern is the hydraulic head created by the 7 foot drop from the ceiling, this is overcome by setting the boiler pressure. Since this is your basement, the boiler pressure is already high enough to get water to any floors above the basement, so it should not need adjusted.

The circulator does exactly what it says, it circulates the water in the heating system. It is not intended to be like a well pump, where it has to overcome a vertical head. When running, there is very little pressure difference between the suction and discharge of the circulator.

[majakdragon]

Only thing I believe you will have to do is install vents at the top of your drops. The drops will cause a trap and the air will be at the top of the loop. Good luck.

[hvac01453]

I agree, install coinvents at all the high points.

[Ed Imeduc]

With then all here. For a few $$ air vents at the top of each drop. They will save you a lot of sweat later on

ED ;)

[Dave24]

Thanks to all for the advice. My concern started when I talked to a saleperson at Lowes and he warned me that he didn't think the single circulator would be able to push the water through the loop with that many drops. I appreciate your help, thanks.

[arkayassoc]

Thanks to all for the advice. My concern started when I talked to a saleperson at Lowes and he warned me that he didn't think the single circulator would be able to push the water through the loop with that many drops. I appreciate your help, thanks.

The circulator just thinks you are pushing water around a #2 washtub. The boiler pressure handles the elevation changes, and the vents deal with the system air removal.

Sounds like you have a good plan.