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Debunking Steam Heating Myths, this weeks video

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RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,880
edited November 28 in THE MAIN WALL

Steam heating systems have a bad rap and I believe it's totally unfounded. This weeks video explores the most common myths and debunks them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAOb94tKgM
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons
CLamb

Comments

  • retiredguy
    retiredguy Member Posts: 1,081

    Well done Ray. Almost every time I saw a boiler fail with damage to the building or cause a serious injury, the failure was caused by human error. Except for the burner, deaerator, and a few pumps those systems ran quiet and lasted many, many years. I loved steam systems and would have married one if I could. (Ha HA)

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,705

    Nicely done, @RayWohlfarth . No how do we get the word out…?

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • leonz
    leonz Member Posts: 1,719

    Thank you Ray, your presentation was done very well.

    I am sending you a PM.

    Leon

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,279

    I am wondering how much of the 38% energy drop at the ESB was related to steam? Probably most of it was lighting retrofits.

    That being said steam will be around forever to some extent. For residential it will be a slow decline. Almost no one wants to work on it. Black pipe is too hard to install, BO HO, no its not if you know what you're doing.

    I was brought up on steam and oil-fired steam at that. New England was 80% oil when I started and in my location most of the older homes were steam. There is nothing like a warm steam boiler.

  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,880

    @retiredguy LOL I love steam systems Each one has a different personality

    @Jamie Hall I wish I knew how to spread the word about steam. Most engineers look at it like an old donkey

    Thanks @leonz I will respond to your message

    @EBEBRATT-Ed Youre probably right We did a lot of work with performance contracting companies and lighting retrofits fueled the majority of the savings. I just wish they would consider life cycle costs when choosing a new heating system. You will install the heat pumps or rooftop units for every steam boiler.

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,279

    Yeah, Roof tops,

    A tin box with 1/2" of insulation sitting on a 0 degree roof. Very efficient.

    The system I liked that was common in the 80s & 90s that seemed to hold up pretty well was the "tower boiler system". Indoor heat pumps connected to a tower/boiler with perimeter hot water heat. They were very common around here for schools and office buildings but I don't think they install them much any more.

    All the equipment was indoors except the Tower/closed circuit cooler.

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