Can Steam radiators be used in a hot water system

[Paul J]

I recently have a need to replace some baseboard hot water radiators that did a horable job of heating, and a freind just happened to replace his whole system radiators and all, so I have the opportunity to get some free radiators but his system was steam. Can I convert the steam radiators to hot water by just plugging the steam port?

[m Ransley]

Yes I took some one pipe steam radiators , plugged the vent and opened the other end. Those radiators are valuable, check used prices, you may want to take a few extra,

[David Efflandt]

If they are 2 pipe type radiators with connections between sections both top and bottom they have been used for hot water.

But if they are single pipe radiators, with sections only connected at the bottom they may not work so well (impossible to vent air without a vent on each section). They work for steam because steam is lighter than air and pushes air down and out to the last section where it is vented from an automatic air vent.

Steam radiators in general will not give off their steam rated amount of heat when used with water, which needs to be considered when sizing for the heat load.

[Paul J]

Thanks guys I will get the radiators and try to use them but if i cant then I will sell'em.