The coldest months of winter Des Moines typically find us with more service and repair calls, some of which result in homeowners requiring new heating systems. You can find a large number of home heating products on the market, from furnaces to boilers. Many people don’t know a lot about boilers. If you’re one of them, we can tell you what you need to know.
Types of boilers
Boilers come in both steam and hot water models. Both deliver heat throughout a home through either a radiant system that uses a boiler to heat water, or through forced air heating systems.
Steam boilers
Steam boilers are kind of like big tea kettles. They boil water until the steam accumulates to create enough pressure to push heat to radiators around your home. The heat is released into your rooms by air moving across the radiators. The cycle continues when the steam then cools and condenses to water, which then returns to the boiler to be reheated. Steam boilers are usually operated with natural gas or propane.
Hot water boilers
Like steam boilers, hot water boilers move warmth throughout your home, but with hot water rather than steam. When the water reaches your desired temperature, it is pumped through the radiant system. Gas is often used to power water boilers, however, you will see oil-fired boilers in New England and the Northeast United States.
Benefits of boilers for home heating
Many people appreciate boilers because of their extremely quiet operation. In fact, it’s almost impossible to hear a boiler working at all unless it’s broken. They are also known for providing comfortable and even heat thanks to the design of the system with pipes installed inside the walls or under the floors. Boilers can also provide relief, in non-forced air heating systems, to allergy suffers because they don’t blow air around and spread allergens.
Even though they can be pricier than furnaces, a lot of people find that boilers are a great heating system for them. If you want more information about high-efficiency boilers in Des Moines, look to Heartland Heating & Cooling. You can reach us at 515-344-3579 or schedule an appointment with us online.