Old Triad boiler/fintube question.

[Glennhvac]

I think this boiler and fin tube scheme were probably more common around Illinois rather than nationally. Does anyone have any idea of the btuh their baseboard put out? It's larger cu/al fin tube than the 2 inch stuff you typically find. I do know that with their boiler they had a 60lb relief and cranked the water temp HIGH and they always skimped on the amount of baseboard that way.

Reason I am asking is now with 0 degrees I had a guy calling with not enough heat. The system is fine but he has a blanket of lint covering the tops of the fins. He's gonna pull the covers and clean. Just curious if anyone knows the output of that baseboard as compared to the new stuff. !/2 inch copper btw.

If any of you folks know this system you know it was common for them to throw four feet in a corner bedroom with two outside windows and call it a day. The whole 3 bedroom house with full basement has 34 feet of baseboard.

[BaldLoonie]

Basement or crawl space?

I took out a Triad with conventional baseboard. Not much baseboard in the house. Turns out there was a bunch in the ventilated crawl supposedly I guess the keep the floor warm. My properly sized boiler struggled a bit in bitter weather. I suggested sealing the crawl, didn't go over well. His bill! We did find after the new boiler went in that his gas bill dropped considerably taking into account degree days.

[Glennhvac]

Full basement. I know once he gets those fins cleaned it will work much better. He's just not transferring any heat. I bet the return is only 10 degrees cooler than the supply. I have a feeling they cranked those Triads to about 250 degrees. I'll have to check next one I come across. Yes I have run across a number with that triad bare tube in the crawl and every house had about 20 feet along the basement ceilings as well.