With a functioning boiler, it’s easy staying warm in Iowa’s winter months. But when your boiler acts up, a few blankets and a pair of slippers might not be enough to ward off the cold. With over 2 years of experience maintaining hydronic heating systems, Iowa All Pro Heating & Cooling has established itself as a trusted HVAC company in the Des Moines area. In that time, we’ve developed a true understanding of boiler systems and how to properly maintain, replace, and repair them.
It can help by thinking of boilers as a particular kind of water heater. Unlike furnaces, which push warmth through the air, boilers distribute it via heated water pipes. Radiators are then used to dissipate the excess heat throughout your home. The cooler water is then returned to your boiler for reuse. The cycle continues until your home's ambient temperature matches the number on the thermostat.
The above process can vary slightly depending on the type of boiler involved. Steam boilers, much rarer in Des Moines than they used to be, heat the liquid past the point of boiling. Other boilers, meanwhile, rely on regular oil deliveries to stay in tip-top shape. Regardless of if your system is powered by oil, steam, natural gas, or electricity, our heating service personnel are here to ensure it functions reliably and efficiently.
Your heating system is a major part of your home and one of the most expensive components to replace. That’s why it’s vital that you hire the right HVAC contractor to manage your boiler’s repair or replacement. Here in Des Moines, there are plenty of companies that offer boiler services. How do you choose the one that’s right for you? Here are six things to keep an eye out for:
Though boilers break down less often than conventional heating systems, they still need service on occasion. Electrical components come loose. Pilot lights flicker out. Save our number the next time you need to fix a problem with your heating system. You’ll soon learn why so many people in Des Moines trust us with their boiler repairs.
Get Heat BackOne of the best ways to keep a house warm while also enjoying cleaner air and superior energy savings is with a boiler. When you move into a new home or are constructing one, consider having a boiler installed with a separate air conditioner instead of a forced–air system. Talk to our professionals to learn about the advantages of a boiler heating system.
Be More EfficientYou must take regular care of a boiler system in order to enjoy the advantage of its long lifespan. Otherwise, you’re just sentencing it to an early grave. Our HVAC maintenance professionals will come to your house each fall to inspect, clean, and tune–up your boiler. To make this process automatic all you have to do is sign up for one of our maintenance plans.
Keep It RunningIowa All Pro sets ourselves apart from other local HVAC companies by always putting our customer first. We wholly dedicate ourselves to providing prompt and professional boiler service throughout the Des Moines area. We’re so confident in our ability to meet your needs, in fact, that we guarantee it. From protecting your property to quality workmanship, our HVAC experts hold themselves to high standards. So, the next time you need any kind of boiler repair or installation in Urbandale, we invite you to give (515) 550-4822 a call.
We recommend having your boiler serviced on a yearly basis. This will ensure it operates at maximum efficiency through the cold times and into milder weather. By getting it regularly serviced, you can help yourself to avoid future boiler repairs. You can learn more about the benefits of HVAC maintenance in Des Moines and West Des Moines by reaching out to us by phone or through our website.
While this is an option, it’s not something any boiler can do. You’ll either pay extra for a combi boiler or add an indirect-fired water heater to your existing system. Doing so gives you many of the same benefits as a tankless water heater. That means limitless hot water, more usable space, and fewer systems to maintain. For more information on installing a combi in Des Moines, talk to our technician during your Des Moines boiler repair or replacement.
If your boiler is leaking, don’t panic. You can limit the damage by taking the following steps:
This depends on numerous factors. Very old boilers are typically very loud. While those made in the last 15 to 20 years, tend to be quieter than even the newest ones. This is because internal components in new systems, used to enhance efficiency, produce low levels of noise during use. Even if this additional sound is annoying, your new system’s lower operation cost will more than make up for it.
Our radiant heating experts service all brands of residential boilers. These brands include Lennox, Bosch, Weil-McLain, Lochinvar, Hydro-Therm, Crown, Navien, AO Smith, Buderus, Peerless, Westinghouse, and Triangle Tube.
There are a number of differences between furnaces and boilers. Which one is right for your home in Des Moines depends on your home’s size and existing features:
First, we’ll briefly explain what zoning is. This term is used to refer to the creation of individual heating areas in your home. This allows each one to be controlled via a separate thermostat. This makes your home more comfortable while eliminating hot and cold spots. While you can zone a hot water heating system, it’s not as simple as doing it on a forced air one. The technician will have to have both plumbing and zoning experience. You can expect to pay a minimum of $1500 for your first boiler zone in Des Moines.
Turning cold water into a source of home heating is a six-step process:
A properly installed boiler is a closed system. This means that while it doesn’t dry the air out, it will not add any humidity either. To achieve this, you can consider heating a pot of water on the stove in short bursts. Laying out water bowls near radiators can also lead to it evaporating into the air. Alternatively, a whole house humidifier in Des Moines could be a worthwhile investment.
While this depends on the temperature your home is set at, you should never directly touch a radiator. The risk of blistering and scalds is always present, especially for children. We recommend installing radiator covers to keep toddlers and pets from injuring themselves. Due to the fire risk, we don’t advise placing clothing or other items on radiators. For other safety questions, ask our Des Moines boiler specialist for more information.
As mentioned above, modern boilers are closed systems that don’t waste much water. While steam boilers lose a significant amount of water to steam, that issue is much less prevalent in condensing systems.
While changing fuel sources is possible—especially for oil or propane to natural gas—it’s often not economically feasible. Typically, this changeover runs somewhere north of $6,000. That means opting for a new boiler in Des Moines is often more cost-efficient. Feel free to call us to get a better idea if this option will work for you.
They both have tanks. Both use oil, natural gas, or electricity to heat water. In many ways, there are no operational differences between a boiler and a water heater. It’s their purpose that sets them apart. The latter primarily provides hot water for appliances, bathing, and cleaning. Boilers, meanwhile, increase a home’s ambient temperatures. Some boilers can do both. You can also add an indirect-fired water heater to your boiler for a similar outcome.
Go to where your home’s heating system is and look up. If you see several small pipes, you have a boiler. Furnaces, meanwhile, are hooked up to metal ductwork. Floor vents and wall units are also a sign of forced-air heating. A boiler primarily relies on radiators to spread its warmth.
They can not. A lack of innate cooling options is one of the significant disadvantages of radiant heating systems. If you want to add air conditioning to a home with a boiler in Des Moines, you have three options:
When considering a new boiler, you'll likely to run into the word ‘condensing.’ Many homeowners in Des Moines aren’t exactly sure what that is. How is it different from a regular hot water heating system? In short, a condensing boiler is designed with efficiency in mind. Any produced water vapor is vacated through the chimney in a standard boiler. The more modern condensing units take the heat from the produced steam to shift it back to liquid form.
A standard boiler in Des Moines is comprised of 11 different pieces:
It should be noted, however, that many of these parts could be responsible for a sudden loss of heat. The only way to truly identify the issue is to contact an Des Moines radiant heating specialist.