Innovative Air Solutions

Heating

Most U.S. homes are heated with either furnaces or boilers. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts; boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed through pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed through baseboard radiators, radiant floor systems, or can heat air through a hydro heating coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers, and are inherently less efficient, but high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available.

Boilers and how they work

A boiler operates by way of heating water/fluid to a preset temperature (or sometimes in the case of single pipe systems, until it boils and turns to steam) and circulating that fluid throughout the home typically by way of radiators, baseboard heaters or through the floors. The fluid can be heated by means of gas, or fuel oil. The fluid is in an enclosed system and circulated throughout by means of a motorized pump.   Most new systems are fitted with condensing boilers for greater efficiency. These boilers are referred to as condensing boilers because they condense the water vapor in the flue gases to capture the latent heat of vaporization of the water produced during combustion.

Furnace and how they work

In a furnace, a fuel is burned and the heat produced goes through a heat exchanger into to the air distribution system for the home or building. The blower and fan and ductwork carry the warmed air to the rooms where it is needed. A vent pipe or flue transfers waste gases to the outside air.

Today’s central heating systems are more efficient

On the brighter side, today’s central heating systems with gas or heating oil furnaces, or boilers are much more efficient than their predecessors. The heating industry uses a rating called the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) to measure the efficiency of converting gas into energy for heating. A high AFUE rating means the furnace can derive more heat from each unit of gas. This means both lower cost in utility bills and less environmental impact from emissions.
Only twenty-five years ago, the typical gas furnace, or boiler had an AFUE of about 65 percent. Currently, regulations of gas furnaces require them to exceed 78 percent efficiency. The AFUE range commonly seen is 80 to 95 percent, and the most efficient furnaces have an AFUE of almost 97 percent.

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