Boilers

A boiler system heats the water inside a tank that supplies either hot water or steam, which flows through pipes and radiators to produce warmth. Most residential boiler systems are hot water heating systems. Some older homes and larger homes may have steam heating systems. Both steam and hot water heating systems are excellent for keeping your home warm during the cold winter months. A boiler normally sits on top of a burner where fuel is burned to produce heat. The most common fuel for boilers in the Annapolis, Maryland area is natural gas, which is usually piped into the house from a pipeline that runs under the streets or road. In rural areas, not served by natural gas lines, the most common fuel used is propane gas, which is kept in a large tank in the yard of the house. Propane is usually more expensive than natural gas. It costs about the same to operate a boiler as it does to run a forced-air system, but forced-air systems are usually less expensive to install.

Evaluating Types of Boiler Systems

There are two main types of boiler systems: Steam boilers and Hot water boilers. A steam boiler system heats water to create steam, which is pumped throughout the house’s radiators, whereas a hot water boiler system heats water and pumps it through radiators or baseboards in the house. In many cases, this will also heat water used for other purposes in the home, such as bathing and cooking, eliminating the need for a separate hot water tank. When considering a boiler system to purchase, you’ll want to consider the system’s operating efficiency. How efficient your new system is will determine the percentage of fuel that is used to create heat. Energy Star is a certification from the federal government that a boiler has an energy efficiency rating of over 85