Radiators or Baseboard?

So I have a water to air heat exchanger in my oil furnace heating my house, it does great but I want something different, some radiant heat would be nice, during this last cold spell I could really feel the effects of forced air heat and we didn't like it, I can't slow the fan down anymore or anything, I am where I am with it, so I was thinking of something for living room, and the two bedrooms, living room is where we spend our time, and bedrooms are the farthest on my ductwork, would I be happier with some baseboard or some radiators?

They are both plumbed the same correct? I'm thinking I would come off my manifold with another smaller manifold and seperate pump to control them.

The wife grew up on a wood stove so she's missing the constant radiant heat. Thanks in advance.

Well, you can have both in one...search and find used "cast-iron baseboards"...they're out there for the patient searcher.

Like these?

I believe so. If it tickles your fancy, make it your mission.

haha I don't think I know what my fancy is yet! whats the deal with the cast iron baseboard? havent ever heard of it, is it just cast iron piping instead of copper?

The whole bb is cast, fins and all. goggle will show you plenty.
Only a few mfgr and was a high end seller. Craig's List generally has some pieces from whole house demolition jobs.

Ok I will have to look into some.

Most were sold under the name of "BaseRay". It would be easier to install a couple of radiators.

Burnham Baseray can sometimes be found on Craigslist, and is still available new...although the $50/ft price likely keeps the sales slow.

Free standing cast iron radiators are fairly easy to find if you are patient, but finding ones that are well matched to your house layout might be tough. If you installed TRV's that would help with the balancing.

Staple up radiant is another option to consider.

Option #4....Panel radiators.

http://www.houseneeds.com/heating/hydronic-radiators

Some of them have a plug and play thermostatic head available, which makes them very easy to hook up. Put one in each room, pipe them all off a manifold, and set each room to the temperature you want.

Yes rob I've considered staple up floor heat, but with the plates and insulation it's just not cost effective, way to much money to install.

If I went with radiators they would have to be short ones, for under the Windows.

I've got a lead on some cast iron baseboard, just waiting for them to get back to me.

Rob R. wrote:Option #4....Panel radiators.

http://www.houseneeds.com/heating/hydronic-radiators

Some of them have a plug and play thermostatic head available, which makes them very easy to hook up. Put one in each room, pipe them all off a manifold, and set each room to the temperature you want.

Hmm those are interesting! Deff a possibility.

hotblast1357 wrote:Yes rob I've considered staple up floor heat, but with the plates and insulation it's just not cost effective, way to much money to install.

If I went with radiators they would have to be short ones, for under the Windows.

I've got a lead on some cast iron baseboard, just waiting for them to get back to me.

How come you didn't get the cast iron ones from Scott with the New Yorker? He had some nice ones.

coalkirk wrote:Most were sold under the name of "BaseRay". It would be easier to install a couple of radiators.

Why would that be? There both just two line connection?

hotblast1357 wrote:

coalkirk wrote:Most were sold under the name of "BaseRay". It would be easier to install a couple of radiators.

Why would that be? There both just two line connection?

Just because of the disruption to the rooms. Removing baseboard trim etc. Closer proximity of drilling the floor to run pipes. not a huge difference. It's probably more a how do you want it to look thing. some folks don't like the look of radiators. I think they look great and they work even better.