Many methods are used to provide heat to your home with one of the most reliable being a boiler. The basic job of a boiler is to heat water by using natural gas or oil as a fuel source. Once heated, the water is dispersed via an electric pump to carry heat to different types of home heating radiators or baseboard heat installed throughout the home to provide heat for your home.
What are the Different Types of Home Heating Boilers?
There are two common types of boilers including natural gas and oil. Each boiler produces hot water or steam by using their individual fuel source and each cater to a specific use depending on your home’s heating needs which you can read about below.
Natural Gas Boilers
A number of homeowners choose to install a new natural gas boiler for their home heating needs, for various reasons. Boilers can also use other resources like propane to provide their heating, cooling and hot water needs. Natural gas boilers are one of the most commonly installed home heating units. The average cost to install a new gas boiler can vary depending on the size needed and other replacement cost factors specific to your home’s current heating setup.
If you are unsure which replacement home heating boiler is best for your home, you will want to speak with us before making a decision on installation.
Pros of Gas Boilers
- Provides an even, constant room temperature.
- Customers with natural gas accessible can pay monthly, eliminating the need of large storage tanks on their property.
- Homes without the availability of natural gas on their street have the option of propane. In this case, a storage tank would be needed on site for distribution.
- Clean-burning gas contributes far less to the greenhouse effect versus oil and solid fuel boiler systems.
- Natural gas emits hardly any odor as it burns.
Oil Boilers
Oil is one of the tried and true fossil fuels this country was built on and still depends on today. Oil boiler installation is common for homes that do not have access to a gas line for a natural gas boiler to be installed. Where resources are limited, they can be a great alternative to installing a common gas boiler unit.
Pros of Oil Boilers
Modern high output oil-fired boilers require less space due to their compact size.
Oil is stored onsite in storage tanks located in or outside the home.
Ample supply is available, under normal conditions, providing economical fuel for a home’s heating and hot water needs.
Boiler system maintenance and cleaning are usually required only once a year.
Fuel delivery and periodic adjustments are required twice a year, or as needed.
Steam Boilers
A steam boiler installation will consist of installing a steel or cast iron block that will convert water into steam for home heating purposes. The steam will provide heat through radiators or baseboard to heat the home.
Replacement of your existing steam boiler can be somewhat complex. There are many”rules” which need to be followed for a properly installed, quiet steam system. Our professionals have over 20 years experience with these systems.
How Do Boilers Work?
The boiler is an integral part of your home’s central heating system. You activate the boiler by setting a thermostat to the desired temperature. A valve opens to allow gas – natural or propane – to enter a combustion chamber where it is ignited by a pilot light or electronic ignition system.
Jets direct the gas flames and heat onto a heat exchanger connected to a section of water pipe. The heat is transferred to the water pipe through the exchanger where it is heated to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. From here, the water then travels through a series of pipes that travel to and from radiators strategically located throughout your home.
An electric pump connected to the water pipes provides the necessary pressure and circulation to distribute the water through the pipe and radiator system. As the water reaches each radiator, it emits its heat through the radiator to warm the air in your home in an even and consistent manner. The water then travels back to the boiler through a return pipe where it is reheated and circulated through the system again. Since this is a continuous process, the boiler must keep firing to maintain the required water temperatures.