What Is The Difference Between Hydronic Boilers And Steam Boilers?

Before we go in to differences between hydronic boilers and steam boilers, we will need to understand their working principles and their applications which eventually will answer your question.

Steam boilers as we know are designed for the basic purpose of heating water using the heat from the fuel. The heated water and the steam generated are both used in the applications required. These kinds of boilers are usually placed in factory used applications and are very robust as they are required to work for longer periods of time.

On the other hand, hydronic boilers are boilers which are basically used for house holds mostly in the northern Europe for the purpose generating heat. Applications of such boilers include the central heating system to counter act the cold experienced in those parts of the world. A different heat generating technique totally opposite to the forced-air furnaces used in the North America.

The working principle of hydronic boilers is similar to steam boilers in that the water is heated and the heated water is flowed through pipes and the steam generated through the heated water is flowed into the house using radiators. The working principle though remains same; however in some cases steam boilers catch the steam in a different vessel. The heating fuel used in hydronic boiler is same as the ones in steam boilers and due to economical reasons natural gas is preferred.

Therefore, hydronic boilers have the same working principal as steam boilers and the minor difference that occurs is in its applications.

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