I never knew that there was a Christmas version of an automatic air vent for a residential steam heating system. When I finally found it, I instantly knew this story would be for the holiday issue.

The author uncovers an early Trane float air vent—offering a look at coal-era steam heating design, failed radiator traps, and what contractors should watch for in aging two-pipe systems. The first ...

Closing vents won't cut your heating bill — it's a total myth. This article explains why and points to better, actually ...

I was chatting with an engineer the other day. She called to ask me some questions about old steam-heating systems, particularly those of the New York City variety. She was putting together a paper on ...