Boiler Combustion and Safety

							Boiler Combustion and Safety
Many boiler systems don’t actually boil water. A hydronic boiler heats a liquid to a preset
temperature, circulates it through copper or aluminum pipes, and then disperses it through a
home via radiator, baseboard heater or some other medium. Some boiler systems can even be
set up to provide home heating and domestic water heating. They can work as effectively as a
traditional gas furnace or electric heater and offer some distinct advantages those systems lack.


Modern boilers are also safe and dependable. Boilers used to have a bad reputation for
catastrophic failure, due mainly to incompetent maintenance and poor design. Over two
centuries of trial and error have taught us a lot about how to use them safely and modern
hydronic boilers are built with multiple fail-safe systems. They’re no more dangerous than a gas
furnace and a lot less dangerous than driving a car.


Thanks in part to massive Russian reserves, European households depend on natural gas to
power most of their hydronic boiler systems. Natural gas is also popular in the United States
since the US also has large natural gas deposits. That being said, nearly any fuel source could
be used to power a hydronic boiler. Currently, there are machines that can use fuel oil, coal,
electricity, wood and even more exotic power sources. Basically, no matter how you power your
home, you can find a hydronic boiler to fit your lifestyle.


Boiler Heating Power Advantages
So, why would you want to use a boiler instead of a traditional gas furnace or electric heater?
Boilers offer the same quality of heating and they have a few distinct advantages over other
systems.


1. Hydronic boilers use radiant heat that won’t spread allergens, mold or dust around your
home. If you don’t clean a forced-air system filter regularly, these can become a potential
health hazard.
2. Dry air is another common problem with forced-air systems. There are ways to alleviate the
severity, but a hydronic boiler can have less of an impact on interior humidity.
3. When installation space is an issue, the pipes necessary to move heat take up less space
than traditional forced-air ductwork. This makes hydronic boilers a good choice for antique
homes being remodeled for modern habitation.
4. Hydronic boilers maintain even interior temperatures better than many forced-air systems.
They can also heat or cool an area quicker than other HVAC systems.


5. While initial installation is slightly more expensive, a boiler can be an economical long term
choice thanks to energy savings over time.