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Boiler Basics 101: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Ever wondered how your home gets its heat? There are many different systems that allow you to stay comfortable when the temperatures outside drop.

Boilers are one of the energy-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to heat your home.

What Is A Boiler?

A boiler uses water to transfer heat and helps maintain consistent temperatures within your home or business.

They work by cycling cold water through a series of heated pipes and distributing it throughout your home as either hot water or steam.

Compared to forced-air systems, boilers are usually a more efficient option and require no ducts.

With no ducts, it keeps the level of air pollution in your home lower and keeps dust, allergens, and mold from being transmitted into the home’s air through air ducts.

Boiler Maintenance

Your home systems should be treated as a car, they may stop running if you neglect maintenance.

It is important to treat your boiler to routine cleaning and maintenance, to ensure everything is running smoothly and will continue to run smoothly throughout the season you need it the most.

When you clean your unit, you are able to prevent scale and corrosion, which helps increase efficiency for a longer period of time.

It also decreases the chances of a boiler explosion or a complete system failure, and the possibility of needing major repairs.

In the long run maintenance and cleaning for your boiler will save you money, because emergency repairs are always more expensive than preventative maintenance

Common Boiler Problems

Boiler problems can be a big headache and happen unexpectedly. The most common issue is when a boiler stops due to a problem within the expansion tank or circulator.

Keep an eye out for these other common boiler problems:

  • It doesn’t produce any heat

  • It is leaking or dripping

  • It makes banging, whistling, or gurgling sounds

  • It keeps turning on or off

  • It doesn’t produce enough water pressure

If you notice any of these problems, call a professional to help diagnose the problem and set a plan in action to get your boiler working efficiently again.

Types of Boilers

There are various types of boilers to help fit your home's size, your lifestyle, and your heating needs.

At NY Boiler & Air Conditioning Repair we install standard boilers, combination boilers, and system boilers.

Standard Boilers

Standard boilers are conventional boilers. They are mostly seen and best for larger homes and buildings.

The boilers have the ability to quickly heat water in the pipes that run through the tank and then send the hot water out to taps as necessary.

Combination Boilers

Boilers such as combination boilers are best for smaller homes or an apartment. This is because these boilers do not include a storage tank, therefore they can fit in smaller spaces and do the same job.

One of the biggest benefits of this type of unit is that it provides you with hot water and heat on demand.

Beware, if you are using multiple taps at once when you have a combi boiler, it can lead to a decrease in water pressure.

System Boilers

These boilers are recommended for an average-sized home and are able to quickly deliver water to multiple taps while keeping water pressure steady.

Water is heated and stored in a cylinder before being sent to the taps throughout your home and turning into steam to produce heat. Since the water is stored in a cylinder, if it runs out, it will take longer to heat your home.

NY Boiler & Air Conditioning Repair is here to help with all your boiler needs. Call us at (516) 219-1952 for all your boiler and air conditioner needs.