Understanding the Basics of Commercial Boilers
Of the many different ways to heat a building, a boiler may be one of your most reliable and sturdy pieces of equipment. They warm buildings by heating water. You might think of old buildings with pipes running through walls into a radiant heater that would make sounds as it heated a room. That old-timey piece of equipment is actually still a proficient way to ensure you get the warmth you seek within different units. When a licensed HVAC technician is caring for it properly, your boiler can last for nearly 35 years, based on the type.
Commercial Boilers 101
If you have never worked in a building that is heated with a boiler, understanding the basics will help you ensure your systems remains functional for years. Here is an overview of boilers, including what they are, the different parts, and safety and maintenance requirements:
- What Is a Boiler?: This pressurized system uses combustible fuel or electricity to heat water. Depending on the system, either hot water or steam will heat the building. The hot water or steam is circulated through pipes running your facility. The heated water or steam lands in radiators or other components where the heat is disbursed. Natural gas is a common fuel type, followed by oil or electricity.
- The Different Parts of a Boiler: Generally, you will find these types of parts and components within your boiler system:
- Burner – This creates flames to heat the water within the boiler unit. It should produce a consistent, efficiently burning flame.
- Combustion Chamber – This is the area where the fuel is burned to heat the water. It houses the burners and is designed to handle volatile fuel safely. You will find these parts built of cast iron, steel, or another heavy-duty metal.
- Heat Exchanger – To transfer the heat produced by the burners to the water that needs heating. Without it working correctly, the water will not heat up. Heat exchangers are made of metals such as cast iron, steel tubes, or copper.
- System Controls – This is how you set your temperature, ignition, air, and fuel supply mixtures, as well as internal pressure. This area regulates when and how often the burner fires up, the water temperature, and the fuel rate. It also controls the internal pressures to ensure that they stay within a proper operating range.
- Exhaust Stack – You might call this the flue, and it carries exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide, away from the inside of the building to the outside.
Safety and Maintenance Concerns: These are volatile systems housing extremely hot water or steam under high pressure. It needs to be clean and working correctly, so it is vital to have a qualified HVAC technician handy.
Choose TRI-AIR Systems for Boiler Maintenance and Installation Needs
Regular preventative maintenance is the perfect solution for getting the most mileage from your system. Understanding how your boiler works empowers you to ensure things continue to heat smoothly. At TRI-AIR Systems, we have over four decades of experience with boilers. Depend on us to install, maintain, and repair your system. Give us a call to experience outstanding customer service from the first call through to our HVAC technician leaving your facility.
Call us at 905.470.2424 or contact us online for your next commercial boiler installation, service, or repair.
