There are many heating options, and it can be hard to decide which one is the best. This article will provide an in-depth look at when you should choose a boiler and how they work.
What is a Boiler?
A boiler is an appliance that heats water to distribute through the house, often circulating through pipes. The hot water keeps your home’s temperature regulated by distributing it at different temperatures during specific parts of the day (i.e., when you leave for work in the morning). The most common boiler is the Heat Pump, Gas or Oil-fired Burner, and Direct Venting Gas or Oil-fired Burner (industrial).
How a Boiler Work
Boiler heating systems can vary significantly, so this one will be primarily general. For example, you may notice that the boiler will turn on when the hot water valve comes on at your home. If this is your boiler experience, you have a programmable boiler. If that’s the case and you are still unclear about how the boiler works, then think about it in terms of what controls and regulates how much heat is sent to each room of your home – it will boil water as this pressure builds from turning on the hot water valve. The amount of heat it can send out changes based on how many people are currently using the hot water (and what they’re doing).
What Types of a Boiler Should You Choose?
There are a few different types of boilers to choose from, each with benefits and drawbacks. In other words, there are a lot of decisions to be made when it comes to choosing the best boiler for your home. How the boiler works for your home depends on various factors that set it apart from others. Here are some and what they may offer:
Heat Pump Boiler
The heat pump boiler is one type that is typically used in new builds or on existing homes because it controls both indoor and outdoor temperatures within the home while also reducing energy costs. According to KMS Brisbane, a heat pump boiler is more advanced than any other boiler, and they are usually the most expensive type of boiler to purchase.
Gas or Oil-fired Burner
It’s a boiler typically used in new builds and older homes where gas or oil is already being used to heat your home’s hot water. This boiler has an additional option of delivering heat through a duct system, which is great if you want to keep the space between your different rooms warm but don’t want to use up valuable energy for the heat itself.
Direct Venting Gas-fired Burner
This boiler is becoming increasingly popular in new builds and older homes using gas or oil. The only disadvantage of direct venting gas-fired burners is they do not use a duct system and rely on the chimney to send heat throughout the home. Sometimes this can lead to inefficient heating if there is any restrictive material in the chimney or creating too much heat.
Industrial Boiler
The industrial boiler is not as common with homes today. Still, they can be a great investment for your business since you get unlimited hot water for a low cost (some will last for over 20 years). This boiler is usually not recommended for residential use but can be a great choice for commercial and institutional applications. If you have an industrial boiler, you have to use an electric manual control to start the boiler.
When to Choose a Boiler
There are a lot of benefits to having a boiler in your home, but there are also some disadvantages to consider. If you’re considering getting a boiler, then this section is for you! The first thing to do is figure out why you want to get one. Think about what characteristics you want out of the boiler and how your current heating system performs. Here are some questions and considerations for whether or not you should get a boiler:
Do I Want More Control Over My Home’s Temperature?
If you want more control over the temperature levels in your home, then it would most likely be beneficial for you to have a boiler. For example, suppose you have a boiler. In that case, you can control the temperature in your home by adjusting the thermostat (also known as a programmable thermostat) and setting different temperatures for different times of day (morning, afternoon, night). However, it’s essential to keep in mind that even with a programmable thermostat, your home will still use energy when it has different temperatures throughout the day.
Do I Have a Big House?
If you have a large house or lots of people using the same hot water source at once will be beneficial to have a boiler because they can provide more hot water. Due to this, you’ll have fewer people waiting for hot water, and your energy costs will be lower. Also, if you have a big house, then it’s likely that the boiler will heat most of the water to one single temperature, which can get uncomfortable — especially after staying in your house for a while.
Do I Have Room to Install the Boiler?
If you want to install the boiler yourself and it’s too big for the room you want it installed in, then this is also a negative factor. If there’s not enough room or you don’t want to put up new pipes or wires, this would be a disadvantage.
Is My Current Heating System Not Energy-Efficient?
If your current heating system is not energy efficient, then a boiler will not be your choice. This is due to the amount of energy used by the boiler even when it’s turned off. You’ll want to check out your current heating system and see if it’s energy-efficient or not. If it isn’t, then you’ll need to get a new one that uses less energy when it’s turned off.
Is It Hard to Install the Boiler?
If you cannot install the boiler yourself, this can be a disadvantage. Since installing a boiler takes some time and knowledge, you may need to get help from someone else and hire a professional contractor. If it’s hard for you to install it, you’ll gain more savings but don’t have control over the project. If it’s easy for you to do, then your job will be done faster, but you’ll still have to pay some money on hiring a professional.
Now that you know what a boiler is and how it works, you should be able to decide whether you want one for your home. If you’ve decided that having a boiler would benefit your home, then go ahead and visit Classic Home Services Heating & Air Conditioning for help. With any luck, now that you have the knowledge and information on boilers and what they do, it’ll be easier for your decision-making process.
