The push for green technology within the home has the majority of homeowners interested in investigating exactly how their heating systems work. Not only are homeowners interested in how their home is heated, but they also want to know the pros and cons of their current system. Many homes, particularly older homes, are equipped with boiler systems. To answer the question, “How does a boiler operate?” we must first recognize that there are different types of boilers with which a home can be equipped. They all essentially function based on the same principles.

boiler-imageBoilers are devices that convert large amounts of water High efficiency residential boilerinto steam. To get a satisfactory answer to our question, “How does a boiler operate?” we must look at the details of this process. This conversion process is where we find variations in the mechanical approach. The steam is captured and kept under constant pressure. Once pressurized, the heated steam is then circulated throughout a home or office via the radiators. The radiators conduct the heat from the pressurized steam and release it into the environment. Any water that is left over flows back to the boiler where the process can be repeated. Generally, boilers are either constructed using fire tubes or water tubes. Fire tube boilers heat the water by means of burning natural gas and oxygen within the tube. The tube is situated in the boiler water tank where the heat can circulate throughout the stored water. Water tubes boilers function in a completely reverse manner. The water is run back and forth through the tube as it is being heated electrically. The water can get much hotter, but it is heating a much smaller amount of water at one time.

The benefits of a residential boiler are numerous. Boilers provide radiant heating and this method distributes the heat more evenly to larger amounts of space versus a forced air system. The cost of a residential boiler is usually more expensive than a forced air furnace but in general, a boiler will have approximately twice the lifespan of the average forced air furnace, often making the upfront investment worth the expenditure. The fact that boilers can take up very little space and remain easy to clean also adds to the list of the benefits of a residential boiler. The main disadvantage of a Residential Boiler System is that central air conditioning is not possible in that there is no existing ductwork with a boiler system. Maintaining a constant temperature can also be tricky and hard to control precisely. Outside of these factors, the disadvantages of a Residential Boiler System are few.

For more information on whether a boiler is the right heating appliance for your home, contact the home comfort professionals at Langton Heating and Air Conditioning in Hamilton today at (905) 312-9644.