Is converting to hot water heating from steam a good option?

Switching to hot water heating can be a good choice for many organizations. Some parts, like a newer boiler, may be converted to work with a hot water heating system instead of being replaced if it is able to withstand the maximum water pressure of the proposed system. Of course, older, inefficient boilers should be replaced.

Buildings with hot water heating use less energy than steam heating since the boiler does not need to heat the water to the point it becomes steam. In addition, hot water systems allow for “zone” heating, while steam-heated buildings often have uneven heating because the system cannot be broken down into zones.

According to HUD, converting from steam to hot water can reduce annual heating costs as follows:

• Replacing steam boilers with hot water boilers can reduce heating costs approximately 16-39 percent.
• Replacing older, inefficient boilers can reduce annual heating costs approximately 20-45 percent.

If you’re thinking about making the switch and need help sizing up a steam coil to a hot water coil, give our coil experts a call at 1-855-Coil-Now.