Can Boilers Be Used for HVAC?

It’s winter again in Cache Valley. 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 various products on the market that will ensure you’re warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s take a look.

There Are Different Kinds of Boilers

A boiler is a type of HVAC equipment used to heat your home, and it uses 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 Models

Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is transported to radiators around your home. Producing more steam heightens the pressure in the system and pushes the steam throughout the system. Radiators have air vents that open to let off 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 primarily powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

Hot water boilers operate similarly but circulate hot water throughout your home instead of steam. When you boost the heat, water begins to warm up and is pumped through the radiant system when it has met your desired temperature. Water boilers can be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not commonly used 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 more than likely won’t hear a boiler running 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.

Picking the right heating system for your home can be a difficult 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 Cache Valley, give Western Mechanical, Inc. a call at 435-753-5515.