How Are Boilers an HVAC System?

It’s winter again in Columbus. The frostiest months of winter can bring about more service and repair calls, which often results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are a variety of products on the market that will keep your home warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s take a look.

Different Designs of Boilers

A boiler is a type of HVAC equipment used to heat your home, and it takes 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 make steam, which is sent 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 relieve the pressure – and the heat – into your rooms. The steam then cools, condenses to water and heads back to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are usually 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 turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported through the radiant system when it has met your perfect temperature. Water boilers can be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not commonly found outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.

Benefits of Getting Heat from a Boiler

Boilers are known for their almost soundless operation. In fact, you probably 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 benefit is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping lessen the allergens in the air.

Choosing the right heating system for your home can be a hard decision. Although they may 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 Columbus, give Classic Air a call at 614-210-3041.