Boilers have been around for over a century, and while today’s boilers are very energy efficient, many of the main components that make up the system are still the same. Having a basic understanding of the components of your system can go a long way toward helping with the maintenance and repair of your heating system. To help you better understand your boiler and its components, our Design Comfort technicians have put together a list for your reference.
Main Boiler Components
- Burner – the burner is the area where the air mixes with your fuel source and combusts.
- Combustion chamber/firebox – this is the chamber where the combustion from the burner heats the heat exchanger; this chamber can reach temperatures of several hundred degrees.
- Heat exchanger – the heat exchanger allows the heat from the combustion chamber to heat the water in the boiler’s tank.
- Aquastats – these components sense the temperature of the water in your boiler and tell the burner when to start and stop.
- Expansion tank – the expansion tank is a small tank off the main boiler that helps protect your system from excessive pressure.
- Backflow valve – a backflow valve is a safety device that allows water to flow in a single direction only.
- Circulator pump – a circulator pump is used with boilers that use hot water to heat; the circulator pump pushes the hot water through your system, allowing it to circulate to the various outlets.
- Supply lines – supply lines are the pipes that deliver the heated water or steam to the distribution points.
- Return lines – when the water cools, or the steam cools and changes states back to water, the return lines bring this water back to the boiler for re-heating.
Common Boiler Outlets
There are 3 main outlets for a hydronic heating system:
- Radiators
- Baseboard heating
- Hydronic radiant floor heating
As you can see, there are multiple key components to a boiler, so if you are in need of repair, it’s always best to call for a trained professional. The Salt Lake City heating experts at Design Comfort are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so if you are experiencing problems with your boiler, call us today!
