How Do Steam Boilers Work

In steam heating systems, a boiler furnace heats water by means of a gas or oil-fired burner and turns it into steam. The steam travels through pipes to radiators or convectors, which give off heat and warm the room. As the steam cools, it condenses back into water, and returns to the boiler to be heated again.

How does a residential steam boiler work?

A burner below the tank heats the water until it turns to steam. The steam rises up through a system of supply pipes to each radiator in the home. The steam’s heat is transferred to the radiator (and into the room via air convection), causing the steam to condense and turn back into water.

Are steam boilers still used?

Steam heat is incredibly efficient, and it’s used by millions of homes and commercial buildings in the U.S. today. However, there are some special precautions that need to be taken. Steam heating systems may be old fashioned but they are not extinct.