Simply, a boiler is an appliance that heats the water. There are two types, hot water boilers, and steam boilers. We will cover common questions regarding hot water boilers, the most common type found in homes, apartments, and condo buildings.
What Is The Hot Water Produced Used For?
The water can be used to provide heating or domestic hot water. Domestic Hot Water Boilers heat your domestic cold water and store the heated water in insulated storage tanks ready for use. Heating Boilers heat water which is circulated to heat emitters like cast iron radiators, fin tube baseboards, fan coils, and in-floor heating tubing. The heat emitters transfer the heat into space. The water is circulated back to the boiler to be heated again. Then, this process repeats until space reaches its desired temperature.
Are There Different Styles Of Hot Water Boilers?
Yes, boilers come in many different efficiency ratings, designs, and styles. To find out which style of boiler would best suit your application give Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas a call. We will go over all the options available.
I’m Looking To Upgrade To A High-Efficiency Boiler, What Do I Need To Know?
Above all, the most important day in a high-efficiency boiler’s life is Install Day! High-Efficiency boilers have to be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise failing to do so can seriously lower the boiler’s efficiency and shorten the boiler’s life. Likely, to convert to a high-efficiency boiler some piping will need to be changed. The chimney will need to be modified for plastic venting. Therefore, accommodations will need to be made to dispose of condensate that is produced by the boiler. The advantages include fuel savings, whisper-quiet operation, a much smaller footprint, and technology advances that allow you to monitor your boiler from mobile apps.
Can The Heating Boiler In My Home Also Heat My Domestic Hot Water?
Yes! This can be accomplished by either installing a combi boiler, which instantly heats your domestic hot water as soon as you open a faucet, or by utilizing an indirect water heater. An indirect water heater is an insulated tank of domestic water that utilizes a coil within the domestic water which circulates hot water to and from the boiler. In turn, heating the domestic water within the tank.
Does My Boiler Require Maintenance?
Absolutely! It is very important to have a trained professional perform annual maintenance to ensure the following:
- Passages within the boiler are clean and clear
- The burner is operating properly and safely
- Any Water Leaks are identified
- Sensors are clean and in good condition
- Safety devices are operating properly
- Check for the presence of CO in building with boiler operating
- The entire heating system is operating properly
I Recently Had A New Boiler Installed; Do I Still Need Annual Maintenance?
Yes! You have a warranty on your new boiler and having a trained professional look at everything annually ensures that any warranty issues will be taken care of before the warranty is up.
What Is Combustion Analysis And What Does It Have To Do With My Boiler?
Combustion analysis should be performed at the time of installation and during maintenances of your boiler. A combustion analyzer takes samples of the flue gases in the chimney and gives service technicians a picture as to how well the burner is set up. Manufacturers provided information as to what a combustion analysis report should look like if the burner is tuned properly and adjustments can be made to get burners performing to manufacturer specs. Gasfitters use to do this by “eyeballing” the flame while making adjustments. Modern burners can not be “eyeballed” and require combustion analysis to confirm proper operation.
If you have questions or would like assistance, give our professionals at Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas a call today.
