# Why does steam rise from manholes in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 24, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-steam-rise-from-manholes-in-the-u-s/20421 "2000-05-24T16:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-steam-rise-from-manholes-in-the-u-s/20421/1 "2000-05-24T16:47:53Z")
I’m confused about something. It seems to me that pushing steam miles and miles around a city would be very ineffective. Wouldn’t it cool off and turn back into water? Just wondering. A faithful reader… Enright3 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-steam-rise-from-manholes-in-the-u-s/20421/2 "2000-05-24T17:52:27Z")
The mailbag item being referenced is: [Why does steam rise from manholes in the U.S.? (24-May-2000)](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mstreetsteam.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-steam-rise-from-manholes-in-the-u-s/20421/3 "2000-05-24T19:45:25Z")
Just like pushing electricity for miles and miles through copper wires? Luckily copper has fairly low resistance. And I think the article mentions insulated pipes, so these steam systems probably have low enough levels of cooling to make it economical.