You make a good point Pat. Something I had almost forgotten about, from my past life as a SteamFitter Apprentice, back in the late '50s. (never made it to Journyman).
We installed/repaired some clever hot water heating systems in both commercial and multi residential buildings.
Mostly they would have a water circulating pump as we discussed earlier. However one old appartment building had a single pipe, natural convection system. Not the most effiecent but very simple.
The hot water furnace, in the basement, had a major header from the top of the water tank (trying to avoid the use of the term boiler). Then there was a head/expansion tank at the highest point in the building (attic). The hot water would rise up the pipes and this hot water would enter each radiator on the vertical run, through a single connection with a therm control valve. As the water gave up it's heat to the room, this colder water went back down the same pipe to the furnace heat exchanger. Sounds like magic, but the water never really circulated, only the heat transfer up the water filled pipe. The only water movement was from expansion and contraction from the furnace to the expansion tank.
With a natural gas furnace and natural furnace draft, there was no need for any electrical power in these systems. The only complaints were from the tenants, since the heat was rather dependent on the fellow in the apt. down stairs.
Steve
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