CORRECT TYPE OF PROGRAMABLE THERMO FOR STEAM?

SFH

I have a Burnham V8 steam boiler which is 7 years old and have been using a Lux (no model #) programmable thermostat for about that length of time for heating only.The display failed and I was reading up on a replacement units which raised more questions. Can I use any Home Depot off the shelf unit or does steam have a separate set of requirements? I have read that cycles per hour may be important as well as run on settings. What do I need to know to make the correct purchase for my steam system?

Hap_Hazzard

Article

You might want to read this: http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/327/Thermostats/43/Best-thermostats-for-steam-systems



I have a Lux too. It came with the house. It seems to work fine.



At least as important as what kind of thermostat you get is where you put it. I've known people who've complained that their house always feels cold even though the thermostat says 68, 70 or 72 degrees. When I ask to see the thermostat it turns out to be on the wall above the stereo cabinet, television or, in one case, a server rack. In other words, too close to electronic equipment that gives off heat. The thermostat feels warm and toasty all the time, so it tells the furnace not to bother making heat. Likewise, if it's in a cold location, the house will be too warm. If it's in a place where there's no air circulation, you get these big cycles where the temperature swings from too hot to too cold. If you have ceiling fans, running them (with the switch in the up position) while the heat is on can help to keep the temperature uniform.

Mark_125

I'm no expert

But I think the over-riding advice around here is find a thermostat that supports 1 or 2 heating cycles per hour - a lot of them don't. Anything more than 2 cycles per hour will be a waste of fuel in a steam system.

-Mark