What happens when steam is allowed to continuously leak from a steam trap?

When steam continuously leaks from a steam trap, it results in a waste of steam. A steam trap is designed to allow condensed steam and non-condensable gases to escape while preventing the loss of live steam. When there is a leak, live steam escapes into the atmosphere, which not only reduces the efficiency of the heating system but also leads to increased energy consumption due to the need to replace the lost steam.

This loss of steam can translate into higher operational costs since more fuel must be burned to produce additional steam to maintain the desired operational levels. Moreover, it can cause other system inefficiencies, such as reducing the temperature and pressure in the system, which can impact overall system performance.

Hence, the correct choice highlights that continuous leaking from a steam trap results in wasted steam, ultimately affecting the steam system's efficiency and productivity.