Purchasing Resources for Metal Stud

Hot Water Boilers Key Terms

Understand the meaning of hot water boiler key terms to make smarter business choices
By Howard Robertson A hot water boiler is useful in industrial as well as residential applications. Hot water boilers have applications in various industries, such as textile, medical and food processing. In addition, you can install a hot water boiler to maintain a comfortable temperature inside a residential complex.

If you want to buy, rent or repair a hot water boiler, you will need to be conversant with certain terms that you will hear from the boiler industry professionals. This guide attempts to familiarize you with important key terms, such as hydronics, hard water and AFUE.

Hydronics

Hydronics or hydronic heating is the process of using hot water to transfer heat from one location to another. A hot water boiler is an important component of a hydronic heating system.
Try:  Hydromatic Technologies Corporation, a provider of cloth drying equipment, offers basic information about hydronics. To learn more about the hydronic heating process, read through information at Appropriate Designs.

Hard water

Hard water contains mineral salts that deposit on the internal surface of boiler components. This affects the performance of a hot water boiler and it is necessary to soften the hard water before passing it through a hot water boiler.
Try:  P.C. McKenzie Company, a supplier of boiler parts, offers a glossary for important boiler terms, including hard water and gauge glass.

Gauge glass

For the safe operation of a hot water boiler, its water level must be maintained within certain limits. A gauge glass is a glass-enclosed visible indicator of the water level in a boiler.
Try:  Johnston Boiler Company, a reputable supplier of marine boilers, provides a glossary of boiler terms, including gauge glass.

Boiler controllers

Boiler controllers are electronic devices that monitor and control the system variables, such as steam (or water) temperature and pressure.
Try:  You can read through information on boiler controllers at GlobalSpec, an information resources for industrial products.

Pressure relief valve

A pressure relief valve is an important device for the safe operation of a hot water boiler. These valves operate if the system pressure exceeds the pre-defined pressure value.
Try:  Anderson Radiant Heating, a supplier of residential and commercial hydronic heating systems, provides a glossary of technical terms, including boiler and pressure relief valve.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

This is the British unit for measurement of heat. One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water 1°F from a starting point of 39.2°F.
Try:  To learn more about BTU and its relation with other units, read through the glossary of wood heating terms at Greenwood Technologies, a provider of renewable heating solutions. Alternative Energy Solutions also provides a glossary of biomass boiler terms, including BTU.

AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency)

AFUE is the unit of heating efficiency of a heating device. To compare different heating devices, you must know their AFUE.
Try:  For the definition of AFUE, you can refer to the glossary at GasNetworks. Moose Heating & Air Conditioning, a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) company, offers basic information about AFUE.

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