Hot Water vs.
This is created in a furnace located in an area separate from the living spaces, usually a basement.
Modern hot water radiators may have a flat, low-profile front panel cover and no visible fins.
The Spruce / Ellen Lindner
Most steam radiators are conventional, freestanding standing style units with visible fins.
There are also wall-mounted steam radiators.
The fins of either style become hot and distribute the heat into a room.
A hot water radiator.Bilanol / Getty Images
Vintage cast iron steam radiators have ornate fins featuring scrollwork and floral motifs.
Tip
Some older types of steam radiators are scalable.
It’s generally a matter of personal preference.
A steam radiator.CynthiaAnnF / Getty Images
Bleeding is easily done by opening a tiny valve on each radiator in the home.
Steam radiators can be messy thanks to escaping steam.
Furnaces generating steam do so under pressure, and while it’s rare, these furnaces can explode.
Humidity
Hot water radiators don’t have the added benefit of increasing humidity in the rooms.
However, added humidity is often a necessity in a home during dry winter months.
Steam radiators emit steam, which brings humidity into rooms.
Steam isn’t the point of steam radiators; heat is.
But some steam is an inevitable byproduct of these radiators.
The humidity from the steam makes a home feel more comfortable in dry winter months.
Noise
Air may become periodically trapped in the pipes of a hot water radiator.
A house with steam radiators is never a quiet house.
This is usually considered a normal part of living in an older home.
Best for Noise: Hot Water Radiator
Hot water radiators are quieter than steam radiators.
The Verdict
Overall, hot water radiators are more common in newer homes.
They’re more efficient and easier to maintain than steam radiators.
Top Brands
Heat Distribution Systems.United States Department of Energy.
