Do you know what all of the components of your boiler system do? If not, you’re not alone, but it is a good idea for homeowners to learn the different parts of their boiler system and what they do. Here is a quick guide with the info you need.
Pumps
The pump(s) move the hot water through your system to wherever it needs to go. For example, if you have hydronic in-floor heating, the pump is what circulates your hot water through the network of pipes beneath your flooring in order to heat your home.
Expansion Tank
The expansion tank is a part installed near the boiler that resembles a small propane tank. Inside is an expandable bladder that is partially filled with air, which expands and contracts. As the boiler heats up, water expands and is absorbed by the expansion tank. This enables the boiler system to maintain a consistent pressure.
Feed Valve
Your boiler system is a closed-loop system, which means that it is continuously circulating the same water. If for some reason, water starts to escape, say due to a leak on one of the heating pipes, the boiler feed valve helps to maintain the appropriate amount of water in the system by providing make-up water when needed. A properly functioning feed valve is critical to the safe operation of any boiler, which is why regular maintenance checks are essential.
Zone Valves
A zone on a boiler system is simply an area in your home that is controlled by a particular thermostat. You may have just one zone controlled by a single thermostat for your whole home; or, you could.have several zones that enable you to set your thermostats at different temperatures for specific rooms. Each zone is regulated by a zone valve which opens and closes as needed to circulate more or less warm water to get the room to the correct temperature. When a zone valve is not working properly, it is often quite obvious, because just one area of the house will have no heat; or it may have way too much heat, depending on whether the zone valve is stuck closed or stuck open.
Boilers are a specialized area of plumbing that requires boiler-specific training and experience. Boilers have been our specialty ever since John first moved here from the UK in the 70s and set up shop in Cloverdale. You can be sure that when you call us, you are getting fully-licenced and experienced boiler technicians installing, repairing, and maintaining your system.
