Can Boilers Be Used for HVAC?

It’s that time of year again in Erie. The coldest 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 keep your home warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s explore.

Different Designs 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 Boilers

Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to create steam, which is sent to radiators all over 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 heads back to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are typically powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

Hot water boilers run similarly but circulate hot water throughout your home instead of steam. When you boost the heat, water begins to warm up and is sent through the radiant system when it has achieved 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 Getting Heat from a Boiler

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

Selecting 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 Erie, give Patterson & Stirling a call at 814-308-0416.