Steam heat vs others
Greetings! I’m in the process of trying to replace my oil fired steam boiler. It’s a very old boiler that we used to use, but due to its age, 75+ yrs old, we have stopped using it many many years ago and installed a heat pump, and now would like to replace the boiler with a new one.
I live an hour south of Roanoke, VA, and I am having a difficult time finding someone to do this. My area is very limited people with experience in steam, and they either don’t want to bother with it or try to convince me into some other type of heating source. I went to “find a contractor“ and the nearest one is 4 1/2 hours away.
I’m told “don’t bother with steam, it’s too expensive, let me install something else” Natural gas is not an option, I don’t want propane, and I grew up in upstate New York with steam as a child, and I like it.
So the question I’m asking everyone here is: What’s so great about steam? What can I tell these contractors who are against it?
Comments
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Some of steams benefits.
The system isn't full of water and can easily be worked on / repaired without draining it or bleeding it.
No pumps.
No expansion tanks.
Very easy to drain to stop it from freezing.
Smaller radiation than hot water and smaller piping than gravity hot water, but that's really stretching it in modern times.
No, it's not necessarily "better heat" than any other form of heat but it's not worse either. For what it's worth, forced air heat doesn't dry the air any more than any other form of heat, drafty buildings do. Forced air's biggest issue is the constant hot / cold / hot / cold feeling as the system cycles.
As far as why are people afraid of it, I think it's just because they don't understand it and have no interest in learning it.
If you want to stick with steam and oil, and there's really no reason not to, find a contractor that will work with you. Get your self an appropriate sized Burnham Megasteam and have them install it exactly as shown in the manual for the boiler. If you have any questions, or need help sizing it there's plenty on this forum that will gladly help you.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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The problem is you won't be able to convince someone who does not know steam to install steam and actually do you want to?
It would no doubt be a bad install. Maybe @Ironman knows someone in that area.
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That’s exactly the problem I’m running into. Nobody knows a whole lot about steam and nobody wants to touch it. If anyone knows anyone in my area, definitely let me know.
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Unfortunately I have looked them up, they are 4-1/2 hours away. I don’t think they would be willing to travel that far. I’m in Bassett VA
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doesn’t cost anything to ask.
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@Dan Foley definitely knows his stuff.
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It will not hurt to call them.
If it is too far for them to travel, they may know someone in your area.
You could also check with any local plumbing and heating supply houses they may know of someone that does steam.
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I’ll check with the ones mentioned above and let you know what they say
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Do you have an oil company that you plan to purchase fuel oil from? I can guarantee you the if your operate a heat pump, that oil company will not make any money selling you oil. Check with the oil companies near you. If they want you as a customer, I'm sure they will help you find someone that will install a steam boiler that is oil fired.
Also, calling the people that are 4 hours away may be a good idea. If you make it worthwhile, you may get lucky and have a Steam boiler properly installed in your home. Velocity Boiler Works makes a great steam boiler. It's a Megasteam at a lower price point and available thru Johnstone Supply and other wholesalers. They have great tech support too.
The great thing about Steam is that it is very efficient way of heating your home when properly installed.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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some are bigger regional companies that have more resources to cover a bigger area
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It would behoove you to reach out to the great, Dan Foley of Foley Mechanical. Hopefully, he can consult with you on it, give you a drawing and a plan of action that a good, local licensed plumber or heating guy can follow. I do this for distant clients on a regular basis with no issues. Zoom works too. Good Luck and keep us posted. Mad Dog
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Good morning! Some very good ideas have been mentioned! I will reach out to Dan and let you know. Thanks everyone for such great ideas!
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Don't know why but it seems that same boiler outfitted for steam lasts longer than one for HHW.
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That's the complete opposite of what I've seen on here.
It seems like hot water boilers last much much longer. Even a Burnham V7 or V8 seems to last reasonably long as a hot water boiler but very short for steam, often much less than 10 years.
There's little to no air in a hot water system where a steam system is constantly full of fresh air.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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Call local oil companies
Post on local neighborhood forums like Reddit and next door. Or Google them. Find others in your area with oil and steam.
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