Quote:
Originally Posted by Olorin67
I found a book titled the lost art of steam heating, it has photos of an original installation from the late 1850s that is still in use in new england
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I wonder how many such installations still exist? My great grandparents house (built 1905), still had the original steam system in place in the 80s the last time I was there. At the time it had the original boiler which was converted from coal to gas at some point.
So much as I understand the practical reasons for forced air's popularity, those old steam systems sure were cool! All the cast iron radiators with bakelite knobs on the control valve, the lack of any pumps because the system was steam driven.. the reassuring noises they would make as steam was flowing and then condensed. The exposed pipes in some places which would burn you if you touched them.
Some rooms had the radiators covered by ornate wooden cabinets.. sitting on those in the winter is a good memory. I doubt I will ever fondly remember a forced air heating system in the way I remember that 100+ year old setup!