Written on: December 27, 2022
A boiler is a hydronic heating system, which is defined as a system that transfers heat via a circulating fluid, such as water, in a closed system of pipes.
Steam boilers can still be found in older homes, usually ones built before the 1950s. If you have this type of system, your boiler stays true to its name because it actually has to boil water to make steam before your heat can be distributed.
In comparison, newer boilers do not need to boil the water to make steam. Instead, they use hot water to distribute heat through a home’s piping. The heat is usually distributed through your home by either radiators or baseboards.
Because a boiler is a closed-loop system, water does not need to be constantly brought in or replaced, making it more efficient.
Some of the key components of a boiler system include:
Many homeowners prefer hot water and steam-based heating to warm air systems like furnaces and heat pumps. Boilers are ideal for anyone who has allergies or has concerns about their indoor air. Some people like to call it “moist heat,” in contrast to the “dry heat” produced by a forced-air furnace.
When it’s working properly, a boiler quietly moves hot water or steam through baseboards, radiators or sometimes, in-floor radiant tubing. In contrast, a furnace blows heated air through a system of ducts, allowing warm air to circulate through your home.
Here’s another advantage of having a boiler in your home. The heat generated by your hydronic heating system can also be used to heat water in your home, creating an efficient two-in-one home and water heating solution. Heated water is stored in a separate tank that’s connected to the boiler for later use. Learn more about oil-powered water heaters.
While the average boiler will last about 20-25 years, there are many home boilers out there that are even older than that. And while they may still be keeping homes warm enough, their efficiency rate is much lower than a new hot water boiler, which means you are using more fuel to generate heat. Some people have upgraded to a super-efficient condensing boiler, which converts water vapor condensation into heat and recovers some of the lost heat from waste gases.
Westmore Fuel provides sales, installation, and repair services for heating oil boilers at reasonable rates. Heating oil systems have vastly improved because of advanced technology. The new systems we install are four times more efficient than units from several decades ago. Efficient means the system generates more heat with less fuel, which translates to big savings on your energy costs.
To make your equipment replacement more affordable, Westmore Fuel also offers financing options through the National Energy Improvement Fund. (NEIF).
Read more about a new boiler installation.