In winter, the temperature often becomes so low that routine cold-fighting essentials like gloves, mittens, and blankets just don’t cut it anymore. Some days, the cold becomes so severe that even the warmest of clothes cannot keep you from shivering even when indoors.
What is needed in such cases is an external factor that can bring the temperature down to where it becomes comfortable to engage in routine activities. In most cases, this external factor is a boiler.
Besides traditional fires, heaters, and hot-air blowers, boilers are among the key appliances that help control and maintain the temperature inside buildings. As their name suggests boilers produce heat by boiling water, with the boiled water then utilized as warm water around the house or in radiators to help warm the building.
Along with boilers, radiators make up a key element of a building’s heating system. The radiator is a series of metal tubes or fins that turn hot water into steam and transfer heat into a room.
Boiler types
Boilers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and specifications and can be used in residential or commercial establishments. Visually, a boiler is a water tank with the ability to heat water. The heated water is usually stored in an insulated tank that keeps the water warm until it is needed.
A boiler heats the water using one of the various kinds of fuels available like natural gas, oils, and wood. However, many modern boilers are run using electricity that saves both time and energy. Some modern boilers are even powered by solar energy.
Once the water is warmed, it is either stored or taken around the building for use in daily activities like washing and bathing. It is also transferred to radiators when needed to warm rooms.
One of the most common types of boilers is the gas boiler, which is powered by natural gas. These boilers are generally considered one of the most efficient types of boilers due to the low cost of natural gas.
Boilers may also burn oil and wood to generate heat, but such types of boilers are becoming rarer. Instead, electric boilers and solar-powered boilers are becoming increasingly common.
A boiler can either be a fire-tube boiler or a water tube boiler. In fire-tube boilers, hot steam and gasses produced by the burning are moved through conducting tubes passing through the water tank. The hot gasses heat the water in the tank, which can be then utilized by the heating system.
The other type of boiler is the water tube boiler, where instead of gasses, it is the water that moves through tubes placed inside a burning chamber.
Boiler Filling Loop
No matter which type of boiler you have, it is essential that it will have a boiler filling loop system. The filling loop is a device used to add water to the boiler to keep it working smoothly with the needed water pressure. The loop is a flexible hose that connects the heating system with the main water supply line.
A filling loop is essential to ensure that the boiler pressure does not drop below what is necessary and affects the overall performance of the heating system.
One end of the filling loop receives water from the mains, while the other is connected to the boiler. To use the loop, make sure that the boiler is switched off and is cool to the touch. There are two valves on either end of the filling loop that are kept closed. To let the water in, open the two valves and turn on the water supply to fill the loop. This would let the water into the system.
However, you are advised to consult the user manual to ensure the right pressure is maintained in the system. It is advised that you consult a highly experienced boiler repair and maintenance expert. This will not only ensure that your boiler receives the right amount of water pressure that maintains its performance but also see that the boiler pressure does not become dangerously high.
A high build-up of pressure in a boiler can cause explosions and damage to the building and people. So it is best to stay safe let professionals take matters in their own hands.