Boiler life expectancy ranges from about 8-10 years for an electrical boiler and 10-15 years for a traditional gas boiler that has been well maintained and serviced yearly. Has your home’s boiler recently gone out and you are seeking a replacement? When replacing a boiler there can be a lot of questions that homeowners want answered to ensure their new boiler is a proper investment. For the homeowner that wants to understand boilers and how they work as well as how to determine a good replacement, Agape Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing will share more about boilers and what to know when replacing them.
How a Boiler Works
There is a major difference between old and modern day boiler system. Most modern boilers don’t actually boil water. Most modern boilers are more like a water heater that uses a gas fueled burner to heat the water. However, the water in the tank never reaches boiling point. Older boilers used the steam from boiled water and circulated the steam throughout the home. Modern boilers now use radiant heating, which uses the hot water to radiate the heat. The difference between boilers and furnaces is that a furnace will heat the air and circulate through air ducts. A boiler encompasses each room with hot water warming the areas much like a blanket. Boilers don’t use air ducts but instead utilizes piping to circulate and envelop the home with heat.
Types of Boiler & Radiator Heating Systems
When replacing your home’s boiler system, you will need to determine if it is a standard efficiency or a high efficiency model. To determine which type of model is in your home, you simply need to look at the piping on the side or on top of the boiler. A standard efficiency model will have metal piping, while a high efficiency model uses PVC piping. After determining what type of model of boiler you will need to see what kind of radiator you have. There are three major types of radiators: one is a cast iron radiator, another is a baseboard and finally, a fin tube radiator. Baseboard radiators are pipes that are covered with a paneling that goes along the bottom of the wall near the ground. A cast iron radiator has iron piping that is installed against a wall. A fin tube is a cross between a cast iron radiator and a baseboard radiator. A fin tube radiator is a smaller section of piping that is installed on the wall but also sets on the ground. However, unlike a baseboard radiator you can see the piping of the fin tube radiator and it is not covered by any paneling.
Boiler Upgrade & Replacement Compatibility
Once you determine the type of boiler and radiator system that is in the home, you can better determine which type of boiler you need to buy. Some adaptation can be made to older boiler systems to improve the heating efficiency if desired. If you need a boiler replaced and need help determining which type and size of boiler you need for your home, it’s always good to seek professional assistance.
Heating Repair Services & More in Bedford Hills, Manhattan, Flushing, Queens, Brooklyn & The Bronx, New York
If you have questions or need help replacing your home’s boiler and heating system, contact Agape Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We provide HVAC and plumbing services and can help with boiler and furnace systems and more. Contact Agape Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today.
