Steam heat
What it is
The registers for the forced air ducted system seen behind the table legs, are grained to blend with the historic baseboards. The HVAC system uses a water/air system where chilled water and steam heat are converted to conditioned air.
Its parts
- Burner
- The boiler burner assembly must be rated for condensing due to the acidic exposure to flue gases.
- Steam main
- As an example, a steam boiler in a typical building may be set to operate at a range of 2-5 pounds per square inch (psi) above atmospheric pressure. Neglecting for pressure drops along the steam mains and risers, 5psi at a radiator would compress the trapped air volume by approximately 25% and therefore allow that radiator to emit a quarter of its maximum heat output even when the TRV has successfully closed.
- Radiator air vent
- TRVs, as well as radiator air vents, function on the premise that they are able to control the movement of air within a radiator. To the extent that any leaks exist at threaded connections within the radiator assembly or at the inlet valve seal, this function may be compromised and/or steam may escape directly into the conditioned space.
- Radiator
- Radiators: Hot water flows through a series of metal fins, typically made from cast iron, and releases heat into the room through air convection and radiation.
- Chimney
- It can also be trapped inside homes by blocked chimney flues.
- Fireplaces can cause fires if the chimney is cracked, blocked or coated with creosote, or if sparks and embers reach flammable materials.
- Have central air handling systems, including furnaces, flues and chimneys, inspected annually and properly repair cracks or damaged parts.
Related pages
- Glossary: Steam heat
Its entry, and the guide's pages that use it.
- Steam heat
How steam boilers and radiators work, air vents, banging and boiler rules
Sources
- National Park Service. Preservation Brief 24: Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings.
- U.S. Department of Energy. HVAC Programmable Thermostats.
- U.S. Department of Energy. Boiler Replacement Package Performance Requirements, Savings and Costs (DOE Building Technologies Office).
- U.S. Department of Energy. Thermostatic.
- U.S. Department of Energy. Balancing Hydronic Systems in Multifamily Buildings (DOE Building America).
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Inspecting Your Home Heating System Before Winter Could Save Your Life.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Warns Consumers to be Cautious When Using Space Heaters, Furnaces and Fireplaces This Winter.
- U.S. EPA. Sources of Combustion Products.