Steam heating systems are used in residential, commercial, and industrial sites. They’re especially common in old buildings, like the ones found on historic university campuses. But how do they work?
The steam heating system consists of a boiler filled with water, piping that leads to various radiators around the building, and more piping to bring condensed water back to the boiler.
The boiler heats the water to its boiling point, converting it to steam. This conversion causes a buildup of pressure, causing the steam to travel through the piping in the building to various radiators in different rooms.
Once in the radiator, the heat from the steam emanates through the room. As it releases its heat through the radiator, the steam cools and changes back into water. There is more piping that returns this water back to the boiler. It’s a recycling system that pumps continuous heat through the building.
This simple method is quite effective. This is evident as buildings built more than a hundred years ago still contain steam heating systems. They are durable and easy to manage, making them one of the most effective methods of heating a building.