Steam versus hot water heat

Bob_G

We just purchased an old house full of old house charm. It currently has an oil based steam system in need of major repair. Some advise that we convert to hot water heat because it will be easier to maintain and easier to sell when the time comes.

Would it be crazy to stick with steam?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

JUGHNE

Get ready for comments.
Is this 1 or 2 pipe steam?
Could you post pictures of typical radiators and a few of the boiler showing piping floor to ceiling?

And where are you located?

Danny Scully

It’s never a crazy idea to stick with the system the house was build with. I frequently talk customers out of converting their steam systems to hot water (for a long list of reasons). Usually contractors who recommend converting to hot water aren’t up for the challenge, and that’s not a good quality.

Bob_G

2 pipe system in NJ. Installed in 1935 probably state of the art at the time. Heat primarily distributed by copper fin convectors recessed and hidden under windows.

Very confident that boiler needs to be replaced and all related piping that goes into boiler. I don’t have any pics at the moment

Jamie Hall

Frankly, you'd be crazy to convert. Contrary to what you may have heard, steam is much easier to maintain (no moving parts to speak of except the burner -- no pumps). It is very doubtful that you could recover the cost. It might be harder to sell, down the road, but it might not.

Whoever fed you the information is not a good resource. Get in touch with @EzzyT to evaluate what is needed for the new boiler and piping -- he's one of the top people around.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Bob_G

If the boiler needs replacement and the rest of the system and radiation is in decent shape I would stay with steam.

The ones that want you to convert know nothing about steam.

Do you have gas available?

Check "find a contractor" on this site. @EzzyT is one of the best. There may be others in NJ if he doesn't cover your area

JohnNY

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

@Bob_G
The ones that want you to convert know nothing about steam.

This is so true. I have a shop in Orange, NJ and the steam work done by others that I get called to correct is astounding and gaining in number every year.

mikeg2015

You should convert your classic 1960’s car to fuel injection because your mechanic doesn’t like to work on carbs. Prefers plugging in a computer.

Some radiators won’t even work with hot water. They are only for steam. Conversion will only gain you 2-3% on the coldest days.

Steam has the advantage that radiator and piping won’t freeze.

Even a small water leak can be catastrophic. A tiny steam leak will give you some warning. Radiators that are tight at 2psi might leak at 15-20psi water.

ethicalpaul

Jamie Hall said:

Frankly, you'd be crazy to convert. Contrary to what you may have heard, steam is much easier to maintain (no moving parts to speak of except the burner -- no pumps). It is very doubtful that you could recover the cost. It might be harder to sell, down the road, but it might not.

Whoever fed you the information is not a good resource. Get in touch with @EzzyT to evaluate what is needed for the new boiler and piping -- he's one of the top people around.

I was in a position similar to yours two years ago, except I never had the pleasure of having a contractor try to convince me to trash my system.

I bought a 1913 small two story Northern NJ home with one pipe gas steam boiler knowing nothing about steam. I just ran it as-is the first winter, it was OK with some issues.

Then I found this site and one year later I know more about steam than anyone I know other than these fine folks on this great forum. I wouldn't consider for a moment replacing an original steam system with hot water. My mother-in-law's house had that conversion and there is no benefit with several risks/challenges (it rained in her kitchen last year). Steam is quiet, simple, even heat that I'm convinced is the most economical system, when considering all costs over time.

You can get into the system as much as you want, from just a good working knowledge using contractors from this site for maintenance and service, all the way through total DIY. I've used @Dave0176 to check over my system, he's great.

Edit: The one thing I would upgrade if it's available would be to natural gas, ideally at the same time you do the boiler (if you do need one)

jumper

Steam's negative is that owner is supposed to check boiler's water level and low level safety regularly. Some homes go for years without it.

Jamie Hall

jumper said:

Steam's negative is that owner is supposed to check boiler's water level and low level safety regularly. Some homes go for years without it.

Um. Well, yes. On the other hand, the same thing applies to hot water... which may not even have a low water cutoff, unfortunately. There is no such thing as a maintenance free heating system...

Steamhead

What @Danny Scully , @ethicalpaul , @JohnNY and @Jamie Hall said. Period.

Bob_G

Thank you all for your opinions and thoughts, greatly appreciated!

mikeg2015

Jamie Hall said:

jumper said:

Steam's negative is that owner is supposed to check boiler's water level and low level safety regularly. Some homes go for years without it.

Um. Well, yes. On the other hand, the same thing applies to hot water... which may not even have a low water cutoff, unfortunately. There is no such thing as a maintenance free heating system...

We work on force air furnaces all the time that people think are maintenance free. Air filters need changes, condensate drains plug up. If you have a poor fitting filter the secondary plugs up and efficiency drops to probably 88% saving nothing over a boiler system and you burn 400 watts running the blower and inducer.