What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of heating your home? Most people will say furnace. But some say boiler.
Boilers are very popular and becoming more so with their modern features. See for yourself with these 6 exciting facts about boiler systems.
Boilers Today are Very Energy Efficient
After around 2005, boilers started to become more energy efficient.
This means more money in your pocket, and less of a toll on the environment.
There are different types of boilers, the more popular one being the condensing boiler.
This system has a bigger heat exchanger that can recover more heat from the gas it burns. This means less heat wasted, and more used in your home. High-quality models are up to 98% more efficient.
How Exactly Does a Boiler Work?
Boilers are part of a hydronic heating system. It heats water to a temperature of 140 - 180 degrees and then circulates it through a system.
This system is made of pipes where the heat from the water is released through radiators, radiant tubing, or baseboards.
Boilers Don’t Actually Boil, Do They?
Once upon a time, steam boilers were very common. They used to boil water to make steam.
This is no longer custom, as the boilers today typically use natural gas to heat the water.
You Can Save Money with a New Boiler
The older the boiler, the less efficient it becomes. Just like anything else, boilers experience wear and tear, and eventually need to be replaced.
With new boilers becoming so energy efficient, as we discussed above, you can save hundreds of dollars a year investing in a newer model.
Boiler models have an A-G rating, A being the best quality. When looking to buy, be sure to invest in better quality, as it will save you later down the road. Also, installing a new boiler in your home can increase its value up to 5%, as it is a massive selling feature. Something to think about.
No, Water Does Not Make Your Room More Humid!
Some boilers pull air from inside the home to achieve combustion, while others pull air from outside.
Taking air from indoors can make the air drier, not humid. Taking air from outside will not affect the indoor air quality at all.
Mind Your Boilers Water Pressure - Not Too High, Not Too Low
Most water pressure valves on boilers have a 0-4 gauge, with some parts green, and some red. This indicates safe and danger areas for your pressure.
Average pressure should sit between 1.0 bar and 2.0 - 2.5 bar. Anything below 1.0 bar, and you will need to re-pressurize it.
If it gets above 3.0 or 3.5 bar, water will start coming out of the release valve, which is not a good thing. Pressure can be reduced by draining the water out using a drain point, usually found under a radiator, or bleeding the radiator.
Now all of you out there in Manassas, VA are more boiler informed. Heating your house can be easy, affordable and safe. Consider these six fun facts when purchasing your next home heating system.