A hot water heating system, also known as a ________ heating system, is similar in many respects to a steam heating system.

In a hot water heating system, commonly referred to as a hydronic heating system, water is heated and circulated through pipes to provide heating to a space. This system operates similarly to a steam heating system but uses water in a liquid state rather than steam. This method is efficient, as it allows for better temperature control and the ability to heat spaces gradually and evenly.

Hydronic systems utilize a boiler to heat the water, which then moves through radiators or baseboard heaters, radiating heat into the room. The close relationship in operation between hydronic and steam heating systems lies in their shared infrastructure of piping and the principles of heat transfer.

Other heating system types, such as radiant (which usually refers to a specific installation method) or electric systems, have distinct operating principles or sources, which do not align closely with the operation of steam systems. Convection heating, while a method of heat transfer, does not define a system like hydronic does, making it less applicable here. Thus, the term hydronic is the correct and most fitting term to describe a hot water heating system in this context.