| Steam heat is a warm wonderful and absolutely | | | | will no longer work as designed. Noise and all sorts of |
| fabulous way to heat your house. Steam heat is | | | | problems will come from uninsulated piping. |
| almost always created from water in a boiler fueled | | | | When you have radiators on upper floors or radiators |
| by gas, oil or electricity. It then passes through pipes | | | | that are further from the boiler they should be |
| and radiators or convectors to heat your home. A | | | | adjusted to release more air to compensate for the |
| steam heating system uses steam generated from a | | | | increased air volume in the piping due to the distance |
| boiler. When the water boils, the steam rises through | | | | from the boiler. If you have a valve that is clogged |
| the pipes and into the radiators to heat them. The | | | | with mineral deposits or stuck shut, no air will be able |
| hot radiators then heat your home. | | | | to get out of the piping. Because of this no steam |
| Steam radiators need to have a valve that allows air | | | | can enter the radiator, so it doesn't heat up. This will |
| to escape at a controlled rate so that the radiator | | | | block the movement of steam into the radiator, or |
| can heat up. Steam systems will also lose a little bit | | | | cause a very noisy hammering as pressurized steam |
| of water all the time, so there has to be water | | | | tries to get through this water "dam". |
| makeup so that you do not run your boiler dry. | | | | It is very important that you find someone that is |
| Steam heating systems without an automatic water | | | | very familiar with steam heating systems when |
| feeder are not safe. You will risk serious boiler | | | | repairing or installing steam heating. Incorrectly |
| damage should boiler water be lost. If the boiler runs | | | | designed, installed, steam systems and condensate |
| dry it could also explode if water is placed into it | | | | piping is a huge problem in today's buildings and |
| while it is hot. There should always be a low water | | | | facilities. There are not many qualified to design and |
| cutoff installed on every steam system. Therefore | | | | install properly operating steam heating systems. |
| on a steam boiler the automatic water feeder serves | | | | Incorrect steam piping will always cause costly |
| as a safety device also. | | | | premature failure of steam equipment such as steam |
| Steam is a great heat distribution medium because it | | | | coils, heat exchangers, and control valves. Not to |
| moves easily through your system and it has an | | | | mention the higher cost of operating a system that |
| extremely high heat-holding capacity. The heat-holding | | | | is not working efficiently. |
| capacity of steam is much greater than that of | | | | Providing efficient steam heating is very easy and will |
| water. Steam systems often operate at very low | | | | give you hassle-free operation. Steam heat can easily |
| pressures and usually under 220°F. Steam heat is | | | | be one of the most efficient and comfortable ways |
| usually distributed by either one or two pipe systems. | | | | for you to heat your home. The efficiency and |
| In a case of a one-pipe steam heating system, a | | | | comfort of the system are totally dependent upon |
| single main serves the dual purpose of supplying | | | | the quality of your installation or repair. Today it is |
| steam to the heat exchanger and allowing | | | | very difficult to find someone that knows what they |
| condensate to run back from the radiators also. A | | | | are doing when it comes to steam heat. Do not |
| two-pipe system has two connections from each | | | | settle for someone that "thinks" they know how to |
| heat exchanger or radiator. In this system, steam | | | | fix or install your steam heating system. Make sure |
| and condensate flow in separate piping from each | | | | that you look till you find the right person for the job. |
| other. With a steam system all pipes must be well | | | | They may cost more to get to do the work, but it |
| insulated and you must use pipe insulation rated for | | | | will be well worth it in the long run. |
| steam piping. If the insulation is removed the system | | | | |