Heating with STEAM

18 years ago

I'm investigating the various ways to heat our new home. All along I thought I'd go with hot water-baseboard. In our current house we have steam (natural gas fired boiler) with the old fashioned radiators (it's an old house)... and i'm thinking I'd like to investigate if steam is still used for heating (using radiators of some sort)...

anyone have any insights into steam heat... is it still used?

Thanks

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Comments (4)

inspectorjoe
18 years ago
I was going to suggest you post it on "The Wall" at heatinghelp.com, but I see that you already found it.

I'm thinking that it would be difficult to find qualified people to design and install a steam system from scratch. I'd go with circulated hot water. I can't think of any advantages steam would have over it with the exception of not needing a circulator.

Joe
frog_hopper
18 years ago
I'm thinking that it would be difficult to find qualified people to design and install a steam system from scratch.

A major heating and air conditioning contractor in my area emphasizes in their Yellow Pages ad that they do not do boilers. They do everything else.
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cedar32
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the follow up. One of my reasons for thinking about steam is I like the "look" of radiators and am not enthusiastic about baseboards. Since my original posting on this site (and 'the wall')... i've found that you can do hot water with radiators. I've been looking at an indirect vent, high efficiency condensing boiler (with stainless heat exchanger) and if I can use radiators.... that sounds like the system I'd be happy with.

Thanks again.
mikeyvon
18 years ago
cedar - i was going to say check out flat or steel panel radiators, but it looks like you already found them. You can get everything from standard looking to art deco. I am using Veha radiators. Team with a Mod-Con boiler (what you are looking at) and thermostatic radiator valves (TRV's) you can have a very comfortable and efficient system (or so i hope!).

I am far from an expert, but i will be happy to answer any questions. I have done quite a bit of research and have spoken too and emailed a few experts. I just ordered my "boiler room" supplies and look forward to putting my system together soon.