Learn More About Steam And Boiler Heating Systems

Benefits Of Steam Heat

There are many surprising advantages of steam heat and hot water units. For one, they don't have many moving parts, meaning they’re durable and don’t involve much maintenance. More advanced systems require special attention and care.

Dust-Free Heating Power

One of the leading benefits of steam heat systems is that they provide dust-free heat. This can be extremely advantageous for those who experience allergies or are sensitive to dust. As forced-air systems, such as a furnace, tend to circulate dust around the home through your vents, steam heat doesn’t force air at all, meaning far fewer dust particles will be floating around your home.

Great Solution In Older Buildings

If you’ve never seen a steam boiler system, you can immediately tell they’re built for older applications. The modern homes today are more suitable for furnaces, heat pumps, and AC systems, while older buildings are a better fit for a steam or boiler heater unit. This involves how these homes were constructed without ducts and other HVAC equipment, which is far more prevalent today.

How A Boiler Heating System Works

Boilers are popular types of steam heating system. These units work by heating water from a gas or oil-fired burner to create steam. That steam then travels through pipes to convectors or radiators, which produces heat for the room. When the steam cools, it will condense back into water. This water is then trapped inside the steam heating system to be used later. This makes a heating boiler a system that doesn’t waste a lot of resources like other heating units. Aside from a steam boiler heater, hot water heating units use the same principle but use hot water instead of steam to heat the system.

Steam Boiler System Maintenance

As increased longevity is a strong benefit of a boiler system, they do have to be serviced on occasion to ensure the unit is working properly. A steam boiler should be maintained at least once a year. Luckily, you can do some easy maintenance tasks on your own, but there are a few other steps that should be handled by an HVAC professional.



Here are a few maintenance tasks that should be completed during a service visit:

• Check safety valve
• Examine water level gauge
• Check pressure level gauge
• Inspect burner and adjust if needed
• Inspect chimney and flues
• Check system for leaks or blockages
• Examine air valves if applicable

Boiler System Disadvantages

When upgrading a home heating system, many homeowners don’t consider a boiler heater because of their efficiency levels. As these do re-use water time and time again, they do take longer to effectively heat up a room. Additionally, a boiler system poses greater safety risks compared to other heating units. However, as a heating boiler provides consistent heat and improved indoor air quality, these units can be extremely useful in a home or business.

Retrofitting A Steam Boiler

To increase the energy efficiency of a heating boiler, they can be retrofitted. These upgrades can also provide greater safety. However, before purchasing these parts, you’ll want to weigh the costs of upgrading your system with the costs of adding these new parts. It may be a smarter decision to purchase a new heating boiler instead.

Always Choose Trusted HVAC Professionals

If you're in the market for a new steam boiler or you’re looking for maintenance services, you always want to choose a reliable HVAC provider. As many companies primarily work with furnaces and heat pumps, try to find a business that has experience working with steam heat systems. They can provide expert guidance and help you decide if a boiler system is worth the money.