It’s that time of year again in Franklin Lakes. The coldest months of winter seem 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 number of products on the market that will heat your home. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s take a look.
Types 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 all of the rooms in a home.
Steam boilers
Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to create steam, which is directed to radiators throughout your home. Creating more steam increases 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 goes to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are primarily powered with natural gas or propane.
Hot water boilers
Hot water boilers run similarly, but circulate hot water throughout your home instead of steam. When you increase the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported 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 utilized outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.
Benefits of heating your home with a boiler
Boilers are known for their nearly soundless operation. In fact, you more than likely won’t hear a boiler operating at all unless there’s a problem 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 decrease 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 find out more about the high efficiency boilers available in Franklin Lakes, give Total Comfort a call at 201-268-5663.