Boilers are an important part of a home heating system, considered to be not only highly efficient but cost-effective.  They can be powered by natural gas, oil, propane or electricity. A boiler is an appliance used to heat water for some residential & commercial heating systems. These systems use the hot water from the boiler to spread the heat throughout the home or business by piping it into different rooms and dispersing the heat through various types of radiators. Once the radiator is heated with the hot water, the water is returned to the boiler to be re-heated and then the circulation can continue. Although most modern homes do not have a boiler, most people with a boiler can use the same unit for years provided it is repaired when needed and maintained properly.

There Are Two Types Of Boilers:

• Hot Water Boiler: These are small, low maintenance units that heat water to a temperature of 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit.  The heated water is circulated through a building’s pipes, which heats up the radiators within each room.  The water eventually cools and is directed back to the boiler through a return pipe and the process starts again.
• Steam Boiler: Not as commonly used today, they are much more complex than hot water boilers.  Found in mostly older homes that haven’t converted yet, they operate with pressure gauges, blow-off valves, automatic feeds and special gauge glass.  Steam heat is created from water that is heated in a gas, oil or electric boiler.  It then goes through pipes and radiators or convectors, where the steam turns into water and cycles back to the boiler.