Boilers heat water or other fluids to produce heat or energy, with the heated liquid distributed through pipes to deliver heat. They don’t always boil water, but can heat it to temperatures between 140-200°F. Boilers rely on pumps and have safety features to prevent low water levels and pressure build-up. They don’t require air filters and have features to prevent water flow back.
Boilers are systems designed to heat air or water to produce heat or energy. They can be incredibly simple or quite elaborate, but the basic designs consist of a closed container where heat is applied to water, which is then circulated throughout the system as hot water or steam. Water must be boiled to create steam, giving the device its name.
However, many home heating systems and water heaters that use boilers don’t boil the water. Instead, the water is typically heated to temperatures somewhere between 140° and 200°F (42.14° and 93.3°C), although some people lower the settings to save energy and money.
Just as a typical furnace heats air, boilers heat water or other heating fluids. The heated liquid then goes through pipes instead of ducting to a particular heating piece of equipment, such as a radiator, to deliver heat. With radiant heating systems, sometimes referred to as heated floors, the pipes can be placed in the floor or ceiling. The water is heated and then moved through pipes, which distribute the heat throughout the space instead of at the end of a line via some other form of heating device.
The air used by a furnace is recirculated, heated and cooled over and over again. The same goes for the water or fluid used in a boiler, although the methods and equipment used to heat the materials differ. Furnaces rely on fans while boilers rely on pumps. They must be connected to the plumbing system of a home or commercial property in order to be able to supply water to the heating system. Newer models may also include a safety feature that shuts them off if the water level gets too low.
Some other features include pressure control valves to keep pressure from building up too much as the water is being heated. Many also have a larger tank that is used to hold the water as it expands during heating. While these appliances may be simple and effective to use, they must also be used safely, and many modern designs come with many safety features.
Boilers also have the added benefit of not requiring air filters, so cleaning and replacing air filters is unnecessary. They typically have features to keep the water within the system from flowing back to the water source.
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