Do you have a boiler and call it a furnace? Or do you have a furnace that sometimes goes by the name “boiler”? It’s true—many people use these words in place of one another. But the truth is, they’re not the same thing. If this sounds familiar, read on to get the record straight on which is which.
Boilers don’t have blowers or fans, so they don’t contribute the level of particles or allergens in the air. Here’s a look at how today’s energy-efficient boilers work: Hot water moves through the boiler’s combustion chamber and makes its way through the pipes in your home. A circulator helps pump the hot water to the home’s radiators or baseboards. The hot water travels back to the unit where it repeats this process, moving back through the home to baseboards or radiators once again.
Steam systems work a little differently. The conversion from water to steam happens while the water is still in the boiler. By way of baseboard, radiators, in-floor radiant tubing or other sealed hydronic devices, the steam travels through your Palmetto State home to keep everyone warm and comfortable during the coldest nights of the year.
As producers of heated air, furnaces are also sometimes called forced-air or warm-air systems. Heated air is blown by a fan into the home. After traveling through the system of ducts, the warm air comes through vents, aka registers, to ensure that your home is warm and comfortable whenever the temperature drops.
The most modern furnaces have adjustable speeds and are very energy efficient. They feature high-pressure flame-retention burners, durable heat exchangers and microprocessor-based controls.
When you upgrade your system, you may be eligible for rebates from the South Carolina Convenience & Petroleum Marketers Association, supported by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). Check with your heating oil company today to see if you can save big!