It’s cold again in Macon. The frostiest months of winter seem to bring about more service and repair calls, which sometimes results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are various products on the market that will heat your home. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s explore.
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 boilers
Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to create steam, which is sent to radiators all over your home. Producing more steam increases the pressure in the system and pushes the steam throughout the system. Radiators have air vents that open to let off the pressure – and the heat – into your rooms. The steam then cools, condenses to water and goes 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 boost the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported through the radiant system when it has achieved your chosen temperature. Water boilers are able to be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil fired boilers are not usually 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 most likely won’t hear a boiler running 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 offer a more comfortable and even heat. Another perk 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 are often more expensive than furnaces, boilers offer quieter and more even heating for your home. If you’d like to find out more about the high efficiency boilers available in Macon, give Air Temperature Control a call at 478-202-3170.