It’s winter again in Des Moines. The coldest months of winter seem to bring about more service and repair calls, which usually results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are a variety of products on the market that will heat your home. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s take a look.
There Are Different Kinds 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 every room in a home.
Steam Boilers
Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to create steam, which is directed to radiators around your home. Producing more steam heightens 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 typically 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 turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is pumped through the radiant system when it has reached your chosen temperature. Water boilers may 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 virtually soundless operation. In fact, you more than likely won’t hear a boiler operating at all unless there’s an issue 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 difficult decision. Although they may be 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 Des Moines, give Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling a call at 515-278-2900.