New Boiler - Steam or Hot Water

George_13

Our house was built in the late 1920s or early 1930s and has a two-pipe steam system. The boiler was replaced in the 1970s, but is now on its last legs.

We are considering replacing either the boiler with a new steam boiler or the whole system with hot water. What I would like to know is whether there is any significant difference in overall efficiency between steam and hot water, assuming boilers of equal efficiency.

Specifically, does the fact that you have to heat water to boiling in a steam system to get any heat cause steam systems to be less efficient during moderately cool weather, and if so does this make hot water a better choice for a new system?

Thanks

lchmb

IMHO

If you have a steam system in good working order and the only problem is the boiler, I would personally replace it with a new steam boiler and stay as is. Steam is a beautiful way to heat and there is nothing in the world that can match it..IMHO...

Steamhead

In a house built then

a "two-pipe" steam system is probably Vapor. This was the Cadillac of heating in its day and is still one of the best out there. Assuming the boilers are similar and the systems are working as they should, there is little difference in efficiency or comfort.

It is much less expensive and less intrusive to fix whatever problems your system has than to try to convert it.

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