How Are Boilers an HVAC System?

It’s that time of year again in Hodgenville. The frostiest 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 various products on the market that will ensure you’re warm. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s get a closer look.

Types 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 each room in a home.

Steam Boilers

Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to make steam, which is sent to radiators around your home. Generating more steam increases 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 usually powered with natural gas or propane.

Hot Water Boilers

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

Benefits of Heating Your Home with a Boiler

Boilers are known for their almost soundless operation. In fact, you probably 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 bonus is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping decrease the allergens in the air.

Picking the right heating system for your home can be a tough decision. Although they are often more expensive than furnaces, boilers offer quieter and more even heating for your home. If you’d like to hear more about the high-efficiency boilers available in Hodgenville, give Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. a call at 270-358-3167.