How Does Boiler Heating Work? Explained

A boiler is an excellent option for heating your home as it transfers heat to water to provide exceptional warmth. While different types of boilers and fuel types determine how these systems function, their general purpose is to use heated water sent through radiators throughout your home to ensure your home is at the perfect temperature.

The experts at Frasier’s Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical discuss how various boiler systems work and their most common issues.

Learn more about the benefits of boilers or schedule boiler services in Rhinelander or Wausau by contacting the experts at Frasier’s at (715) 804-0947.

What Is a Boiler & How Does It Work?

In order to provide you with the heat you need for your home, a boiler uses this basic process:

1. Your boiler uses fuel like gas, oil, or coal to heat water that will circulate throughout the system.
2. Hot water or steam is then circulated through piping to your radiators to distribute heat into each room.
3. After the cooling process, the water returns to the boiler’s heating vessel to begin the process all over again.

Types of Boiler Systems

• Steam Boiler: Steam boilers use a combustion reaction to turn the water in the boiler into steam. This steam then travels to your radiators to provide warmth throughout your home, and once the steam has cooled and returned to its water state, it’s returned through pipes to the boiler to be heated again.
• Hot Water Boiler: These boilers use oil or gas to boil water to power your radiators and provide heat for your home.
• Gas Boiler: A gas boiler has a sealed combustion chamber where an electrical ignition creates heat. This heat is then used to warm cold water in a connected pipe, and once it reaches 180 degrees, it’s sent to your radiators to provide heating.
• Oil Boiler: These boilers work similarly to gas boilers, only with oil as the primary fuel. The water in these units is heated by small droplets of oil sprayed into a fire chamber that are ignited by a spark to create combustion and heat.

Common Issues With Boilers

There are a variety of common issues that occur with boilers, including:

• Leaks: Water that surrounds your tank or pipes is often the result of rust and the loss of dexterity within the boiler thanks to old parts, an aging seal, a high-pressure valve, and more.
• Pilot light issues: If your pilot light shuts off instead of being bright blue, it’s often an issue with a faulty thermocouple.
• Irregular heat: Reduced or insufficient heat could require your thermostat to be reset or for other failing components to be replaced.
• Strange noises: Whistling like a kettle or gurgling can be the result of deposit buildup in the heat exchanger, especially in homes with hard water.
• Frozen condensate pipe: This pipe, which removes waste gas from the boiler, can freeze in low temperatures and will need repairs or to be thawed.

Schedule Boiler Services With Frasier’s

For superior boiler service in Northern Wisconsin, call the professionals at Frasier’s. We handle any job, big or small, with exceptional customer service and reliable solutions.

Our technicians are highly trained and available to provide emergency service. With more than 100 years of service, we’re proud to be your local HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company!

Call (715) 804-0947 today to request boiler service with the experts at Frasier’s.