Can Boilers Be Used for HVAC?

It’s that time of year again in Lexington. 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 keep your home 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 every room in a home.

Steam Boilers

Think of boilers as a teapot. These systems boil water to generate steam, which is directed to radiators all over 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 heads back to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are usually 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 turn up the heat, water begins to warm up and is transported through the radiant system when it has met your desired 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 Using a Boiler

Boilers are known for their nearly soundless operation. In fact, you most likely won’t hear a boiler working 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 give you a more comfortable and even heat. Another perk is that boilers don’t blow air around, helping decrease the allergens in the air.

Selecting the right heating system for your home can be a tough decision. Although they may be 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 Lexington, give James Heating & A/C, Inc a call at 336-853-6070.