Can Boilers Be Used for HVAC?

It’s cold again in Florissant and St. Charles. The frostiest months of winter tend to bring about more service and repair calls, which often results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are a number of 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 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 Models

Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is sent to radiators around your home. Generating 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 returns to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are primarily powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

Hot water boilers operate similarly but circulate hot water around your home instead of steam. When you increase the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported through the radiant system when it has reached your perfect temperature. Water boilers may be fueled using either oil or gas, however, oil-fired boilers are not usually used outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.

Benefits of Using a Boiler

Boilers are known for their almost 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 provide a more comfortable and even heat. Another perk is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping lessen the allergens in the air.

Selecting 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 learn more about the high-efficiency boilers available in Florissant and St. Charles, give B & B Heating & Cooling a call at 314-325-7552.