Home Heating Boilers Require Significantly Less Space
Providing hot water heat for a home requires the use of home heating boilers but surprisingly, the amount of water needed to fill the system may not be as much as expected. I many cases small homes built on a slab with no basement or crawl space, home heating boilers can be used as an excellent source of heat due to their small size when compared to typical gas or oil fired furnaces.
Essentially, home heating boilers are little more than a hot water tank in which water is heated to near boiling temperature. If the water does get too hot and begins to boil it will produce steam, which can damage the pipes in the home. However, all boilers are equipped with a relief valve to vent the steam in the event that happens. An internal thermostat controls the water temperature and controls the burning of the heat source, which can be gas, oil, propane or electric.
A loop of pipe is run throughout the house, from the hot water outlet side of the boiler and back to a cold water inlet, presenting a closed-loop system. Each room in the house typically has a secondary loop equipped with a thermostat controlled vale for that room. As the vales open, water is pumped from the home heating boilers and through the house to provide even heat.
Caution Needed When Working With Boilers
While the water temperature inside home heating boilers in typically about 180 degrees, it can still cause severe burns or injury if the homeowner comes into contact with the hot water. Any service or repairs to home heating boilers should be left to qualified professionals to prevent injury or damage to the home.
Annual inspections are recommended to insure that all relief valves and safety devices are in good working condition. If pressure is allowed to build up in home heating boilers it present the danger of explosion. The system also needs to be drained periodically to inspect for rust in the water, which can be a sign of weakening of the internal water tank.
The most common problem experienced with home heating boilers is the connecting impeller that connects the pump motor to the pump. When this snaps, the pump cannot move the water through the system, which can lead to a complete system shut down. These are relatively easy to replace, but if the homeowner lacks the experience should leave replacement to a qualified maintenance technician.
