How Boilers Work

Wanna know how boilers work? Read on and find out.   Anyone who has a boiler at home needs to know how it actually works. A better understanding of the inner workings of your boiler will help you understand your boiler problems and maybe even do some basic DIY boiler repairs.   How Boilers Work Essentially, the most basic and technical definition of a boiler is as follows: A boiler is a closed vessel where water (or any other liquid) is heated, where steam or vapor is generated or superheated, or a combination of both, under pressure or vacuum, through the energy from the combustion of fuels, electricity or nuclear energy, for purposes that are external to the boiler itself. Simply put, a boiler converts converts heat from a fuel source (either oil, gas or coal) to steam that is transported through the pipes to provide heat (or to run equipment, sterilize, etc, in cases of industrial boilers). So how does it work? Here’s how boilers work: A boiler usually sits on top of a burner where the fuel is burned to produce heat. The most commonly used fuel for boilers is natural gas that is piped into the house through a pipeline that runs under the street. To heat your home using a boiler, you turn an electric switch on. That opens a valve, allowing the gas to enter a sealed combustion chamber through small jets. An electric ignition system in the boiler will then set them alight. The gas jets come into contact with a heat exchanger that is connected to a pipe that carries cold water....

How To Repair A Gas Boiler

Is your boiler not running properly, and you want to learn how to repair a gas boiler?   Gas boilers are important to any home. They keep you warm during the cold season, and provides you with hot water in your kitchen and baths year- round. One cannot underestimate the inconvenience that a broken boiler brings. Generally, it is best to call a gas safe registered engineer to do your boiler repair and boiler service for you. This ensures that the procedure is done safely, and minimizes the chances of your boiler breaking down again in a short period of time. There are certain boiler problems that you can take care of yourself. Here is a guide on how to repair a gas boiler.   How To Repair A Gas Boiler Check the boiler power supply. Check your power supply / circuit breaker or fuse and make sure it is switched “ON”. This may sound silly, but many customers panic when their boiler is not heating and miss out on this one important detail. Always checking this first can save you a lot of money from having a gas safe registered engineer to come over and switch it on for you. Do a reset. Boilers usually have a built in safety device. A reset button is usually located in front of the boiler. Resetting your boiler may be all that you need to get it working again. If you can’t find the reset button, check your owner’s manual. Check your gas supply. Insufficient or no gas supply at all can cause a lot of boiler trouble. If you have...

Residential Boiler vs Industrial Boiler

What are the differences between residential boiler vs industrial boiler? Find out here.   Residential Boiler vs Industrial Boiler: Differentiating The Two   Residential Boiler vs Industrial Boiler: Let’s Talk Residential Hot water boilers or hydronic boilers are those that are used in homes, offices and other small buildings or dwellings. A residential boiler uses hot water to provide heat for the home. The water is brought to a boiling point and is then circulated through pipes and radiators to provide heating. Additionally, the boiler is also used for the hot water itself, that is distributed to the bathrooms, kitchen and other water sources. The innovative central boiler system veers away from the traditional heating that needs to be localized in each room of the house. A centralized heating allows you to save money from your power bill, which usually shoots up during winter. Boiler installation and boiler repair are not DIY- type of jobs. A registered gas safe engineer must handle these issues to ensure safety and efficiency. Boiler service done regularly will prolong the life of your boiler and avoid costly repairs.   Residential Boiler vs Industrial Boiler: Let’s Talk Industrial An industrial boiler typically uses steam to for its purpose. This is referred to as steam boiler. Generally, the application, benefits and principle are the same for residential and industrial boilers. Industrial boilers generate steam that is used to drive turbines that produce electricity, as opposed to being used merely for heating purposes. The way the steam circulates in the system is classified into three: Natural Circulation Forced Circulation Zero Circulation Boilers can also be classified...

Taking Care of Boiler Problems in Spring

With winter gone and spring is in the air, this is a good time to check for boiler problems. These problems may have occured a few months ago but the need for boiler repair is not immediate. Or it may have been tough to schedule the repair then. Now that the weather is not too cold outside, you can finally get someone to have your boiler checked. Boiler Problems to Look Out For LEAKS. Leaks can be found anywhere in the system and doing a visual inspection is the first thing that you can do. Look at the fittings and the seals. Check for drips and puddles along the pipes. After doing that, you may want to check the boiler pressure and see if there are any unexpected drops because this could indicate that there are problems with the relief valve. KETTLING. These are weird gurgling or bubbling noises that your boiler could be making. If you can hear these boiler noises then it is an indication that there is a build-up of lime or scale in the heat exchange. The next thing that you need to do is get the help of a professional to clear everything up. BLOCKAGES. Blockages prevent the boiler from doing what it’s supposed to do. That’s because it keeps the hot water from getting into the radiator. Aside from that, this can also cause several problems within your boiler system. Dealing with Boiler Problems Identifying the boiler problems that you may have been experiencing is just the first step. Now that you are through checking, the next thing you need to do is find...

Heating Controls and Boilers

Do you know that every central heating systems have heating controls that work effectively in both minimizing your energy consumption while keeping everyone at home comfortable? Learning how to use the heating controls efficiently is just one way of cutting down your energy use and it’s equally important that you also know what kind of boiler and heating controls you have installed at home. Types of Heating Controls Built-In Controls. Some boilers have heating controls that are built-in. It’s as simple as turning the switch on so the boiler goes on standby mode until someone inside the house needs hot water. Putting the boiler on standby mode, however, will use a small amount of electricity. During the summer when you don’t need hot water that much, you can choose to turn the switch off. There are boilers with separate temperature controls. This works best if you have kids because you will be able to control the hot water temperature therefore preventing unwanted accidents. Central Heating Controls. These controls are often located away from the boiler which makes it convenient especially if your boiler is located in a loft or in your garage. A room thermostat is used to sense the temperature. If it falls below the temperature set then it automatically turns the heating on, adjusting the room temperature. Some thermostats are programmable so it allows you to set the time when you want the heating to be turned on or off. There’s also a seven-day timer so you can set your own heating pattern depending on each day of the week. Another type of central heating control is...

Room Thermostat and the Central Heating System

Have you ever wondered how important a room thermostat is in your central heating system? A room thermostat is just one of the components in a control system. Its job is to sense the air and ensure that you have just the right temperature inside the room. It switches the heating or cooling devices either on or off depending on how hot or cold the temperature is. For example, if the room temperature drops at a certain time of the day, a sensor is triggered so that it heats the radiator and eventually the rooms inside the house. If there is a rise in the temperature then it turns off the central heating system allowing your entire house to cool down. How Is It Useful? Having an efficient thermostat means savings. It can potentially reduce your energy bills simply because you will only be using your central heating system if the need arises. This also means reducing your need for gas or oil. Most importantly, you are ensured that your house is always at the right temperature — never too hot nor too cold for you and your family. TRV or Programmable? There are two kinds of thermostat — TRV and Programmable. TRV or thermostatic radiator valves are a kind of thermostat that is fitted in the individual radiators allowing you to regulate the temperature in the different rooms inside the house. A programmable thermostat is more advanced because you are able to set different temperatures at different times. You can choose to set it at low temperature when you’re at work during the day and set it at...