How To Improve Boiler Productivity
Even though boilers aren't as popular as furnaces in residential central heating, they are often the best choice in some properties. But, just like any heating system, there are several points at which a boiler can lose efficiency and productivity. Luckily, this means the homeowner has the ability to increase boiler efficiency in a number of ways. This article discusses a few ways that you can get more out of your boiler without having to make serious repairs or replace any major parts.
How Boilers Work
A basic understanding of how a boiler works can help you to better maintain it. A boiler uses fuel to create a flame which heats up water. This water is distributed into pipes that are installed in the walls of the building. At points throughout your home, there are control radiators where you can adjust the flow of water. So, you can turn the radiator up in one room so that it gets warmer.
Insulating Your Pipes
As water travels through the radiator pipes, and away from the actual boiler, it loses heat. So, the water has to travel back to the boiler so that it can be heated up again with the flame. Obviously, the more heat that is lost, the more the boiler has to do, and the more energy it consumes. So, if your pipes are insulated, they won't lose as much heat, and you won't need to set your boiler at such high levels.
Foam pipe insulation is sold at home improvement stores, and it comes in the most common radiator pipe widths. So, you just need to find the right size and wrap it around any of the pipes that you can easily access. This is probably the best do-it-yourself job that you can invest in if you want to increase productivity.
Professional Service
Most other issues with a boiler need to be serviced by professionals. HVAC Professionals can handle the electrical and gas issues that you don't want to touch. For instance, making sure that your fuel is burning at maximum efficiency often requires a professional tuneup and adjustment to the gas levels. This is not something that anybody should handle unless they are a certified technician. At the same time, the water pressure in the lines needs to be closely monitored year by year to make sure that the water flow is consistent and reliable.
As you can see, good boiler maintenance requires a little bit of DIY craftiness and some help from professionals. For more information, contact a company like Rickett Industrial Environmental Systems.