I have a Burnham gas boiler Series 2A system. I have no idea on how this works, so any light shed on the subject would be great. I guess my real question is about the radiators, vents, ducts, baseboards or whatever you call them with this type of system. Half of my house has SOLID metal baseboard "radiators" and the other half are metal but look like an electric baseboard heater, with what look like metal coils inside when they come apart. You can see the inside when looking through the slots. I am assuming they work in the same way, but why are they so different in looks. The solid gets warm to the touch and the other do not. This system does not have anything to do with the water heater does it? Also, is there any maintenace that should be performed religiously? Sorry this seems so choppy, but have no idea how to explain. Thanks for any input.
Jason

Most systems today use hot water rather than steam. Some of the terminology carries over. The water is heated in the boiler, but no longer hot enough to turn to steam. A pump circulates the heated water through a system of pipes, usually copper tubing. Sections of pipe, called radiators, have thin metal plates on then called fins. The fins are heated by the pipe and provide more surface area to conduct heat to the air. I can't say why some of the radiators have solid covers and some slots to allow air to circulate.

The are systems where the hot water heater is replaced with a coil in the boiler. If you have a separate hot water heater, likely it has nothing to do with the boiler.

Most of the systems require little maintenance. This is just as well because many people let it go as long as it is working. It would be well to have a professional check the system at least every few years, perhaps cleaning the heat exchanger in the boiler. Check the pump and motor. If it has little caps on sort of a small cup, give it a squirt of oil at the beginning of each heating season. You may find more instructions on a placard on the boiler. Do you have an instruction book? If so, read it carefully. You might check Burnham's website for more info.

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Originally Posted by labman

Most systems today use hot water rather than steam. Some of the terminology carries over. The water is heated in the boiler, but no longer hot enough to turn to steam. A pump circulates the heated water through a system of pipes, usually copper tubing. Sections of pipe, called radiators, have thin metal plates on then called fins. The fins are heated by the pipe and provide more surface area to conduct heat to the air. I can't say why some of the radiators have solid covers and some slots to allow air to circulate.

The are systems where the hot water heater is replaced with a coil in the boiler. If you have a separate hot water heater, likely it has nothing to do with the boiler.

Most of the systems require little maintenance. This is just as well because many people let it go as long as it is working. It would be well to have a professional check the system at least every few years, perhaps cleaning the heat exchanger in the boiler. Check the pump and motor. If it has little caps on sort of a small cup, give it a squirt of oil at the beginning of each heating season. You may find more instructions on a placard on the boiler. Do you have an instruction book? If so, read it carefully. You might check Burnham's website for more info.

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Thanks labman. :D
I have a round thermostat (mercury?) to run the system. If it can be done, is it going to be beneficial to put in one of those progamable digital types(say like the kind Homeywell makes)? The system now doesn't run very often and keeps the house very nice with the old themostat. I just ask because my old house had forced air and I changed the thermostat over and it saved some money in the long run. Thanks again.

I think the payback would be about the same for a programmable thermostat no matter what type of heat. Check with your local solid waste district on disposing of an old mercury containing thermostat.