Troubleshooting Steam Heating Systems
Steam heating systems are easy to operate but require much higher levels of maintenance than other types. It is especially important to keep a watchful eye on the control system. If the controls malfunction, excessive steam pressure and overheating could cause the boiler to rupture, resulting in serious injury to the occupants of the house and expensive damage to the structure.
If the steam heating system is in good condition, it can last for years without any problems. When a problem does occur, how- ever, the homeowner may experience some difficulty in finding local help qualified in servicing and repairing boilers and steam heating systems. This is especially true in rural areas and small towns.
The first step the homeowner must take is to determine the cause of the problem in the steam heating system. Once that is determined, the homeowner then can decide whether to make the necessary repairs, replace the boiler with a new one, or replace the entire system with another type of space heating system. An example of a problem and possible remedies are listed in Table 8-2.
One of the single best sources of information for troubleshooting steam heating systems is Dan Holohan’s Pocketful of Steam Problems (with Solutions!). It contains easy to understand descriptions of hun- dreds of steam heating problems, their possible causes, and suggested remedies. It covers in depth all types of steam heating systems. The book can be ordered from
Dan Holohan Associates, Inc. 63 North Oakdale Ave. Bethpage,
NY 11714 800-853-8882
