You might be asking yourself: what is a boiler? Most people are familiar with furnaces and water heaters, which are almost ubiquitous in modern homes. However, boilers are also a relatively common method of providing heat to a home. Here, we answer what a boiler is and two other common questions about boilers. If you have any further questions, please contact Wiehler Mechanical, and we would be happy to answer them!
What does a boiler do?
Boilers are an appliance that heats your home. Boilers operate by heating water to heat a space; the water is pumped through pipes into radiators or in-floor heating to heat a home. Additionally, specific “combi” boiler systems can also provide hot water for domestic use, such as showers or laundry.
High Pressure versus Low Pressure
The significant differences between high and low-pressure boilers are the amount of pressure pounds per square inch and per square inch produced by the boiler. Lower pressure boilers are typically lower maintenance, as they operate at a lower pressure. These boilers don’t require regular checks, only requiring a yearly inspection or when it begins breaking down.
High-pressure boilers heat steam to a higher temperature and pressure. Due to the higher pressures that it operates at, these appliances must be appropriately monitored. These need to be checked on an annual basis and when there are any issues. If a problem presents itself, it needs to be fixed immediately.
What kind of boilers are out there?
There are several different types of boilers available currently on the modern market. However, the most common type of boiler installed is known as a combi boiler. These boilers combine a water heater and central heating system into one appliance. What this means is that you don’t need an external water tank.
There are two other boilers available: a system boiler and a standard boiler. System boilers don’t require an external tank, but they only store hot water while the boiler carries out heating. Standard boilers require both hot and cold water tanks, and it’s generally recommended that they’re installed in older homes with existing heating and storage systems in place.
Hopefully, this has answered some of your questions on what a boiler is and what it does. If you have further questions, would like a quote, or are interested in boiler installation, give Wiehler Mechanical a call. We’re here to help you make the most informed decision about your home’s heating system.
