It’s cold again in New Castle. The frostiest months of winter can bring about more service and repair calls, which usually results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are various products on the market that will ensure you’re warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s explore.
Types of boilers
A boiler is a type of HVAC equipment used to heat your home, and it takes either steam or hot water to do so. Both use a boiler to heat the water and a radiant system to provide heat to all of the rooms in a home.
Steam boilers
Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is transported to radiators all over your home. Creating more steam amplifies the pressure in the system and pushes the steam throughout the system. Radiators have air vents that open to relieve the pressure – and the heat – into your rooms. The steam then cools, condenses to water and returns to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are usually powered with natural gas or propane.
Hot water boilers
Hot water boilers work similarly, but circulate hot water around your home instead of steam. When you turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is pumped through the radiant system when it has met your chosen temperature. Water boilers can be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil fired boilers are not usually found outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.
Benefits of heating your home with a boiler
Boilers are known for their virtually soundless operation. In fact, you more than likely won’t hear a boiler operating at all unless there’s something wrong with the system. And, because radiant systems use pipes that are installed in the walls or floor, boilers can offer a more comfortable and even heat. Another benefit is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping reduce the allergens in the air.
Selecting the right heating system for your home can be a hard decision. Although they can be more expensive than furnaces, boilers offer quieter and more even heating for your home. If you’d like to learn more about the high efficiency boilers available in New Castle, give Central Heating & Plumbing a call at 724-401-1843.