Most people seem to understand the basic concept behind furnaces, but what about boilers? Even though these central home heating systems are quite common, not everybody is familiar with them.
Because of this, today we’re going to talk about six little-known facts to help introduce you to the world of boiler systems.
1. Boilers and Radiators Work Together to Provide Heat
When your home is heated with a boiler system, it means that hot water is used to warm your home.
The boiler is a system of pipes and radiators that feed into a central heat exchanger, and after the water circulates through the system, it returns to the heat exchanger to be warmed again.
After that, the water gets pumped back through the pipes and rads, transferring its heat to the air or objects in your house.
2. But Don’t Be Fooled by the Name: Boilers Don’t Boil!
If you live in a Greensburg, PA home that was built in 1900 or later, or if you’ve updated your boiler in the last few years, then you might be interested to learn that your central heating system doesn’t actually heat the water inside hot enough to boil it.
Rather, the water temperature typically runs between 145 and 190 F, and the name boiler is just a leftover from older times when boilers used steam instead of hot water.
3. There’s a Sweet Spot for the Water Pressure in Your Boiler System
Boilers are low-maintenance systems, but the water pressure is something you’ll have to keep an eye on.
If the pressure gets too low (below 12 psi), it won’t have enough power to get to the radiators, and you won’t have any heat.
You can increase the pressure by adding more water to the system. However, if the pressure is too high (above 15 psi), it can damage the system. You can bleed the radiators to reduce the pressure.
4. A New Boiler Can = More Money in Your Pocket
You’ve probably heard the adage that you have to spend money to make money, and the same is true with your boiler.
In order to save money, you’ll first have to invest in a new boiler. But once you do, there are two ways that an updated boiler can help you save.
Because new boilers don’t actually boil, they use less energy, meaning you can keep your house warmer for less. Similarly, modern boilers are highly efficient, so you’ll reduce your monthly power bills drastically.
5. You Don’t Have to Worry About Increased Humidity Because of Boilers
A modern and efficient boiler will neither add nor remove moisture from the air in your home, even though many people worry that a boiler might increase humidity.
But the fact is that the water inside the system can’t escape, and because the pipes and radiators are made from non-porous materials, no water vapor will make its way from the boiler into your home.
6. Boiler Efficiency Is on the Rise
There was a time when boilers were extremely inefficient, and even wasted as much as 44 percent of the fuel they used. But those days are long gone, and modern boilers are extremely efficient.
In order to receive a high-efficiency rating, boilers have to effectively use at least 85 percent of the fuel they consume, and some go as high as 98.5 percent.
We hope these six boiler facts will help you appreciate your home heating system a little more, especially because modern boilers will use less energy and save you money every month. Beyond that, boilers are also very effective heating systems, they are whisper-quiet, and they’ll keep you and your family warm.
