Think You Know Boilers? Think Again! Check Out these 6 Fun Facts to Learn More

When most people think about boilers, they picture a noisy steam-producing machine that when it kicks in, pushes very hot water through pipes to radiators, which then humidify as well as heat the air.

This older image of a boiler is now obsolete. Newer condenser boilers are completely self-contained and produce radiant heat that is the result of pipes carrying warm water through the building.

For the inquisitive, here are 6 Fun Facts about how modern boilers work and the benefits of installing this heating system at home.

1 – The Water Inside Boilers is Not Boiled

Most dwellings can be adequately heated by water that is only 60 degrees F, and they utilize a very small amount of natural gas to do this.

This is part of the reason that today’s boiler systems provide such inexpensive heat. Once it reaches that temperature the water expands and rises.

This water will fill pipes and radiators with radiant heat that is temperate and comfortable. Boilers can boil water, but there is no point in raising the temperature in your home to an uncomfortable and costly high temperature.

2 - Boilers Don’t Add Humidity to the Air

One of the biggest misconceptions about boilers is that they add water to the air. This is simply not true.

Boilers do not provide a damp heat because the entire radiant heating system is completely self-contained.

At no point during the heating process does any vapor escape from the system to humidify the air.

The heat provided by boilers is as dry as that generated by electric or oil-burning heating systems.

3 - Low Water Pressure Can Sabotage Radiant Heating Systems

Radiant heat only succeeds when the pipes in your home are full of water. If there is no water in the pipes, thanks to low water pressure, then your boiler is going to malfunction.

If such a thing happens, many parts of your home will not be heated. Poor water pressure does not provide enough energy to push the water upwards to higher levels, leaving you with a chilly upstairs an attic.

4 - Modern Boilers Use Inexpensive, Green Energy

Contemporary natural gas fueled boilers are sealed completely and do not have vents or a flue, so there is no way that fumes or vapors can escape from the unit and emit toxins and gases into the air.

Boilers that are not working properly and emitting carbon dioxide will burn with a yellow or orange flame.

This means the unit is “burning dirty” in which case you should have it off and call in an HVAC expert to service it immediately.

5 - A New Boiler Can Reduce Heating Costs By 90%

A new boiler uses less water and 90% less fuel, so it makes sense our heating bills might be 10% of what they were before the new boiler installation.

This is especially true if you have replaced your old oil furnace with a blower and vents with a boiler-based system of radiant heating.

A lot of heat that you have already paid or can escape through vents, which is the equivalent of leaking money from your bank account.

6 - Modern Boilers Are Easy to Maintain and Operate

Turning on any modern condenser boiler is as easy as turning the unit on. The natural gas is lit by ignition, and then the water is warmed and sent up through pipes inside your building’s structure.

When the water cools, it drops back down to the boiler, where it is warmed again and recycled. Radiant heating can change your life by banishing stinking oil fumes, high fuel bills and low water pressure from your Fargo, ND home.

However, your new condenser boiler will need to be maintained at least twice a year to make sure it is in good working order. Rest assured as well that when you choose to install a new boiler, you are also doing some good for the environment by helping to conserve earth’s natural resources.