Reply To: Updating our heating system

hot water is more efficient, it doesn’t REQUIRE a pump, it can work by gravity.

It is easier to maintain, no need to add water regularly. It’s mostly a closed system.

It’s quieter – almost noiseless. No knocking of pipes, etc.

They stopped installing steam heating systems, oh, roughly at the end of WWII.

Also, the radiators don’t get as hot: steam radiators can go up to 220 degrees F, whereas most hot water systems have a max of 160 or 180 – you can’t scald yourself as quickly. Steam radiators can do real damage fast.

Steam is a bit more expensive to install (two pipes per radiator, rather than one) than hot water, but it’s most people’s perference.