How Are Boilers an HVAC System?

It’s that time of year again in Morgantown. The iciest months of winter tend to bring about more service and repair calls, which sometimes results in the need for new heating systems. From furnaces to boilers, there are various products on the market that will heat your home. What’s a boiler you ask? Let’s get a closer look.

Different Designs 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 Models

Picture a boiler as a teapot. These systems boil water to create steam, which is transported to radiators all over your home. Generating more steam amplifies the pressure in the system and pushes the steam throughout the system. Radiators have air vents that open to relieve 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 work similarly but circulate hot water all over your home instead of steam. When you boost the heat, water begins to warm up and is pumped 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 usually utilized outside of New England and the Northeast U.S.

Benefits of Heating Your Home with a Boiler

Boilers are known for their virtually soundless operation. In fact, you probably 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 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 difficult 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 Morgantown, give Mountain Air a call at 304-413-1287.