Understanding Boilers for Heating the Home
Boilers are essential for surviving the winter safely. When homeowners have a boiler system, they need to understand how it works to use it effectively. Likewise, knowing common boiler problems can help homeowners know when to call for boiler service so that the system can operate as intended.
Finally, boilers can be used efficiently when owners have the know-how, leading to lower bills and a lower carbon footprint for the home. Here is a quick guide to help homeowners manage their boilers.
Boiler Basics
Boilers are an old-fashioned but time-tested way to heat homes. While central heating systems use heated air to transfer heat around the home, boilers use heated water. The process starts in the boiler itself, where a burner combusts fossil fuels and transfers the heat into water through the heat exchanger.
Once the water is heated, a pump pushes it through a network of pipes into the various rooms of the home. The hot water releases heat through a series of radiators or baseboard heaters. The cooled water returns to the boiler to complete the cycle again until the setpoint is reached on the thermostat.
Owners of homes with boilers particularly like the feeling of the heat it releases. Heat pumps and furnaces push heated air into a room, but the properties of the heated water make the heat produced by boilers more consistent and comfortable. Boilers are also more efficient than other heating systems, especially when homeowners install high-efficiency boiler systems.
Common Boiler Problems to Watch For
Troubleshooting a furnace is relatively easy when compared to a boiler. The problems with furnaces are more immediately noticed because of how the system cycles. Troubleshooting problems with a boiler can be difficult because the problems will be delayed.
Knowing how to identify problems with the boiler system can make life much easier for folks with one. Since boilers are intricate plumbing systems, leaks are the most common type of problem. Leaks can occur at pipe joints, or they can form due to corrosion in the piping or the boiler.
When leaks are spotted, owners should call for boiler repairs to prevent further damage to the property. Regular boiler maintenance can help maintain boilers and the protective measures that prevent leaks, so homeowners are never surprised.
Protect Boiler Efficiency
Boiler maintenance is a task that requires some steps the owner can handle, while other steps should be reserved for a professional. Some of the things that homeowners can do as DIY boiler maintenance are:
- Regular blowdowns
- Monitoring water and pressure levels
- Checking for leaks
- Observing the pilot and flame
Professional boiler maintenance is a service offered by plumbers and HVAC companies to help the boiler remain problem-free and efficient. When professionals do boiler maintenance, they:
- Check corrosion prevention devices
- Check safety devices
- Drain and flush the system
- Clean the burner
By being proactive, owners can be sure their boiler will run at peak efficiency during the winter.
About Central Heating
Central Heating offers fast emergency service for winter heater problems. Their teams excel at HVAC installations, maintenance, and repairs. Call today for boiler repair service in Barrie, ON.
