Once I purchased my first home, I realized that I needed to do my part in caring for my home appliances. In addition to reading the user manuals for my kitchen appliances and state-of-the-art plumbing system, I realized that I also needed to do a little research about HVAC. Because I had no experience with HVAC systems, I called out a professional to teach me a thing or two. It was fascinating to talk with him, and I was able to take notes about all kinds of important topics, such as maintenance, troubleshooting, and even shopping for a new system. This blog is all about understanding HVAC guidelines.
Understanding HVAC Guidelines
What You Need To Know About Your Home's Boiler System
Marilou Girard
If your home's HVAC system consists of a boiler, it is important for a homeowner to understand how it works, how to recognize issues, and how to do basic maintenance. The boiler plays an important part in a home's HVAC system and your home's overall comfort level. Here are some things you need to know:
What Does a Boiler Do?
A boiler within an HVAC system helps to heat the home using water piped through baseboards. Water moves along the length of the pipes to help heat up a room. Older homes may have a boiler that delivers heat through a radiator rather than through the baseboards.
Are There Different Types of Boilers?
There are several types of boilers, and you need to know which type you have in order to know how to maintain it. A water tube boiler uses tubes inside that water circulates through. Hot gasses help heat the water and the tubes. The water heats up and causes warmth to radiate heat throughout the home.
A fire tube boiler uses a combustion gas process to heat the water that moves through the pipes. Some boilers use a turbulator in addition to the pipes to increase heat absorption. A fire boiler uses hot flue gasses that pass through tubing that is surrounded by water. This type of boiler is more common in industrial settings but can be used in homes also.
How Is a Boiler Maintained?
A boiler needs to be inspected regularly by an HVAC technician to remain in good working condition. During the inspection, the technician will check several things. One important check is the flue gas temperature. The technician uses a combustion analyzer to tune the boiler components back to proper settings to make sure the gas temperatures in the boiler are at the correct levels.
Gas temperatures have to be hot enough but need to be able to properly vent. If the flue gasses are too hot, the boiler will not work efficiently as they move through the flue. If the gasses are not hot enough, condensation will become problematic.
A boiler is a major part of an HVAC system. The boiler is a complex component that needs to be handled by a licensed HVAC technician only. You should not attempt boiler maintenance on your own without proper training, as you could cause a problem that results in an uncomfortably heated home.
Contact a company like STA SO COOL HVAC to schedule boiler maintenance.
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