How Are Boilers an HVAC System?

It’s cold again in Auburn. The iciest months of winter tend to bring about more service and repair calls, which usually results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are a variety of products on the market that will heat your home. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s explore.

Different Designs of Boilers

A boiler is a type of HVAC equipment used to heat your home, and it utilizes either steam or hot water to do so. Both use a boiler to heat the water and a radiant system to provide heat to every room in a home.

Steam Boilers

Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is transported to radiators around your home. Generating more steam increases 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 heads back to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are usually powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

Hot water boilers run similarly but circulate hot water around your home instead of steam. When you turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported through the radiant system when it has achieved your desired temperature. Water boilers may be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not commonly found outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.

Benefits of Using a Boiler

Boilers are known for their nearly soundless operation. In fact, you probably won’t hear a boiler working 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 provide a more comfortable and even heat. Another bonus is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping reduce the allergens in the air.

Choosing 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 find out more about the high-efficiency boilers available in Auburn, give Forster Heating a call at 530-885-8081.