We all rely on our boiler as a heating source. Now that winter is fast approaching, it is high time to assess your home’s heating system and replace old or malfunctioning components. The first thing to look at is your boiler which comes in different types. If yours is over ten years old, you may consider upgrading to a newer model and gain substantial savings offered by high-efficiency units. Whether you are out to get a new boiler for your newly constructed home or to replace your old device, you need to choose the right one that suits your needs.
Size Matters
Capacity of boilers is measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units, representing the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Every structure has a different BTU requirement based on its location and climate, the quality of insulation and the quantity of doors and windows. The general rule of thumb for BTU requirement is to allot about 50 BTU per square foot of space in the interior during a cold climate; 35 BTU in a moderate climate and 20 BTU in a warm climate. If your house is 2000-square foot big in a moderate climate, your boiler must produce about 70,000 BTUs.
Know the Types
There are three main types of boilers, the combi, conventional and system types. Combi boilers can provide hot water and heat without the use of cylinders or tanks. System boilers come with a water cylinder and no water tank, while conventional boilers have both tank and cylinder to store and supply hot water. Combi boilers are ideal for smaller properties where space is important, while system and conventional boilers are suitable for homes that need hot water in multiple places at the same time. If you are from the Gloucester area and you are looking to invest to a boiler, you can contact heating contractors to know your other options. Service providers of central heating in Gloucester can also be your best source of information.
Efficiency Counts
One important factor in shopping for a new boiler is the AFUE rating, which stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. This shows how effective the device is in converting fuel into heat energy. A unit with 85 percent or more AFUE rating is considered highly efficient. Newer boilers have these ratings. Ask about them from your trusted local central heating in Gloucester.
Which Venting System?
Know the type of venting system that works for your home. There are chimney-vented units that naturally exhaust through a chimney, or direct and power vent boiler that uses fans to push exhaust through a sidewall vent or a roof. Power-vent units can only be installed in open rooms since they use air from inside. Condensing type of boilers on the one hand has special requirements because of the acidity of the condensate they produce. You may ask the experts from AJM Heating Services for more information on which one suits you well.
The condensate pipe carries condensate from the boiler to the outside drain. Condensate may freeze during extremely cold weather and cause a blockage which tends to back up into the boiler and shut it down. You will know if the pipe has frozen if your boiler display shows a fault code or a warning light. You may also hear bubbling sounds coming from it. You may opt to learn how to defrost it yourself or call your trusted engineer from heating in Gloucester engineers.