Boilers provide some of the most dependable, robust and high-quality heating in Southwestern New York or Northwestern Pennsylvania. Whether your boiler is powered by heating oil or propane, it generates strong heat with just a bit of moisture, making your rooms feel more comfortable. And because there are no ducts or circulated air involved, a boiler system won’t blow dust, pollen, debris, mold and other airborne pollutants throughout your home.
Boilers have been around in their modern form since the 19th century. But the technology of boilers has advanced quite a bit, making these systems more efficient and effective.
A boiler is, in essence, a box for heating water with a flame. It uses pipes instead of ductwork to heat your home. Your boiler’s burner heats water, and then either steam or hot water travels throughout your home. Radiators, baseboards or radiant floor systems heat up and raise the temperature of your rooms.
As the steam or hot water cools, it condenses and returns to your boiler, and the cycle continues until your home is at the desired temperature. Then, the boiler shuts down until it is needed again.
The idea of “steam” heating emerged in England in the 1700s. An early pioneer of contemporary boilers was Stephen Gold, a Connecticut stove maker who, in the 1840s and 1850s, developed a wrought iron boiler with automatic regulators, automatic water valves, and radiators.
However, George Babcock and Steven Wilcox patented a boiler design with tubes inside a firebrick-walled structure in 1867 and formed the Babcock & Wilcox Company in New York City.
After the Civil War, boiler systems became more popular in larger buildings as technology was developed to condense steam using a vacuum. By the 20th century, boilers began to resemble the units we see in homes today. But boiler technology continued to develop, ensuring better condensation recovery and less wasted fuel.
Today’s condensing boilers are far more efficient than the products of the past. They have the following benefits:
This all adds up to higher overall fuel efficiency ratings for modern boilers — often in the 90% range. If your current boiler is over 15 years old, its efficiency rating might be below 60%. Upgrading to a high-efficiency product will significantly lower your fuel consumption and improve your home heating.
The Rinker Oil & Propane team helps households in McKean County, NY, and throughout our region find the best high-performance boiler from leading brands like Peerless, Pennco, Navien, Viessmann, and Energy Kinetics. Our technicians handle each boiler installation promptly and safely.
Interested in making an upgrade to a modern boiler? Reach out to the Rinker team for a free estimate.
