How do I know if I have a steam boiler or a hot water boiler?

Al Letellier_9

If there is a water gauge, you do have steam heat. As for as the level goes, there should be a mark on the boiler jacket showing normal level, but usually 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up is normal. IF you have to add water a lot, like weekly or more often, you may have bad vents or a leak in the system. One other post had a great idea....buy that book or hire a pro to review and educate you on your system. It will be well worth the investment...better idea...do both.

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James V

Do I have a steam oil burner or a hot water oil burner?

I still don't know if I have steam heat or hot water? I have small radiators, but I have read that you can have one and two pipe steam. The boiler is a Burnham KV84 but the manual says for either. Is there anyway I could find out?

Al Letellier_9

steamer????

You should have a gauge glass showing the water level if it is a steam boiler. IF hot water, a guage on the front of the boiler will show pressure and temperature. Steam boilers usually have larger piping and are almost always steel throughout the system. Hot water systems are generally all copper when the pipes leave the boiler area.
Hope this helps.

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Kelly Gilbert

Thank you.....

I have a gauge glass that I have to fill up with water. I must have steam. Do you know how much the water level should be? We have been filling it up almost all the way, but I read somewhere that overfilling is just as bad as underfilling. Thanks so much for your help....it's badly needed here.

klaus

Buy this book:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/shopcart/product.cfm?category=2-109

It's a home owners guide to steam heat and will answer many questions for you.

Another way to tell: pumps. If you have one or more pumps mounted on or close to the boiler it is a hot water boiler. No pumps, you got steam. You can't pump steam! Although you can pump condensate you don't see that on most average sized residential systems.

One more sure way to tell: snap a few pictures and post them here. We'll tell you for sure!

Good Luck, Rich L

Jeff Lawrence_25

AND

There are many 'flavors' of steam, so if you can get any pictures of any strange looking things in your basement, we may be able to tell you a little more about it.