Can Boilers Be Used for HVAC?

It’s cold again in Seymour. The iciest months of winter seem to bring about more service and repair calls, which often results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are various products on the market that will keep your home warm. 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 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 Boilers

You could compare steam boilers to a teapot. These systems boil water to create 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 all over your home instead of steam. When you turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is pumped through the radiant system when it has reached your perfect temperature. Water boilers are able to be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not traditionally found outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.

Benefits of Using 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 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 decrease the allergens in the air.

Selecting the right heating system for your home can be a difficult decision. Although they are often 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 Seymour, give Diedrick's Heating and Air Conditioning a call at 920-833-7967.