What Is a Boilers?

It’s that time of year again in Erie. The coldest months of winter can bring about more service and repair calls, which sometimes results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are a number of products on the market that will keep your home warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s get a closer look.

Types 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 each room in a home.

Steam Models

Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is sent to radiators all over 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 returns to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are primarily powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

Hot water boilers work 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 reached your chosen temperature. Water boilers are able to be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not commonly 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 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 give you a more comfortable and even heat. Another benefit 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 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 Erie, give Patterson & Stirling a call at 814-308-0416.