A: Oh Henry! I know what you are talking about: A noisy steam heating system can sound just like a a football player hitting a steel pipe with a sledge hammer. And that's appropriate, because a steam system does use large steel pipes to carry the steam throughout the house.

Usually there is a big steam feed pipe and a smaller return pipe to carry any condensation water back to the boiler. Some systems may have gravity draining feed pipes that should also remove feed-line water to give the steam an open path to the radiators. Either way, if pockets of water build up in the system piping and radiators, or worse yet, the steam system is overfilled with water, you can get some heavy-duty clanging and banging when the hot steam meets the cooler water.

You will need a licensed heating technician to properly drain the pipe system and radiators. The technician also will set the correct water level and show you how to maintain your steam system.

The good news is that even though steam systems are noisy by nature, you should be able to quiet yours down to reasonable levels. Any strange heating system sounds should be checked out promptly to ensure safe operation. You'll not only get some sleep at night; you'll rest easy as well knowing everything's working fine!