Boilers
Boilers
I don’t have a central unit for my heating.
Most heating systems that employ “radiant” heat are propelled by a boiler—they are critical to the proper and efficient operation of many home heating systems. We’re the experts to call when you need boiler repairs.
What is a Boiler?
A boiler is a natural gas, oil, propane or solid-fuel-burning appliance that produces hot water or steam which is circulated through pipes to heat-radiating devices in a room. Most homes in the United States are heated with either furnaces or boilers. The process that uses boilers to heat the home is called hydronics.
Boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers, and are inherently less efficient, but high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available.
Hydronic systems offer a host of advantages not found in other types of home comfort systems. Of all natural materials for conducting heat, water is best. Temperature changes of water can be accurately controlled and measured, so there is less “over-shooting” of thermostat settings and less wasted heat. And today’s compact boilers, with improved heat-transfer technology, high- efficiency burners and electronic controls are 30 to 40 percent more efficient than boilers installed ten years ago.
If your boiler is old, worn out, inefficient, or significantly oversized, the simplest solution is to replace it with a modern high-efficiency model. Old coal burners that were switched over to oil or gas are prime candidates for replacement. Newer systems may be more efficient but are still likely to be oversized, and can often be modified to lower their operating capacity.
A central boiler’s efficiency is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). The Federal Trade Commission requires new boilers to display their AFUE so consumers can compare heating efficiencies of various models. AFUE is a measure of how efficient the appliance is in the energy in its fuel over the course of a typical year.
At H.C Blake Co. we can help you with any boiler repair service.
