What's the Cause of Spotty Radiant Heat?

What’s the Cause of Spotty Radiant Heat?

Hi! I am a new member and cant tear myself away from your website and show. I purchased my first home last year in upstate New York. It is a small 1922 farmhouse that was mostly move-in ready. After spending a year here, I have learned what improvements should be made. Going into winter, I have a big concern about my radiators.

I have hot-water radiators throughout the house, zone-controlled, with a thermostat on both floors. I noticed that the second floor radiators don't provide sufficient heat when compared to the first floor. I chalked this up to their distance from the boiler, but after closer inspection, i discovered the culprit: Though the pipes are new copper and seemingly updated, I learned that there is actually no “Send” for the second floor rads. There is a zone valve for the return, but the second floor supplies are all tapped out of the first-floor send. I didn't catch this before purchasing the home, but the more I learn, this seems like trouble.

Is this as large an energy-waste as I think it is? It seems like the radiator is pushing and pulling in ways that it isn't plumbed for. Would running a supply line be best, or should I leave it alone? I feel that with the proper plumbing, I will get much more heat and efficiency from the boiler.

Thank you so much for your input, and I look forward to hearing your replies.

Our Answer

First, welcome to the Money Pit! I'm glad to hear you’ve gotten a lot out of the show and website.
My advice for you: This is NOT a DIY project. There are a number of possible causes for the inconsistency among your radiators, but I don’t have information to confidently diagnose the problem. For example, is it a hot water system or steam? From a consumer perspective the two can look identical, but they're plumbed differently.
This is a case where I’d spend time finding an experienced plumber, one with a reputation of successfully servicing older houses, and get a diagnosis. If after that happens you still have questions, fell free to send us the information provided by the plumber or heating contractor, and we can take it from there. Good luck!