Commercial Boiler Systems

While boilers supply consistent and steady heating while enabling other applications in the business too, cost is always a concern in commercial applications. As a result, efficiency is a major concern when it comes to boilers. How well can your boiler take the fuel you pay for and convert it into heating energy your business can use? Let’s take a quick look at what to know about boiler efficiencies.

How We Measure Boiler Efficiency

The most common acronym you’ll encounter when looking at boilers is “AFUE,” which stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. AFUE is a basic yet very helpful measurement of how well a boiler uses its fuel source. For example, in an electric boiler, its AFUE rating might be near 100% because of the very seamless transfer of energy in electrical applications. In old boilers, you might see an AFUE as low as 80%. With modern advances, an AFUE of about 90% or more is common.

What does all that mean? In the last example, with an AFUE value of 90, you could expect the boiler to make use of 90% of all the heat energy it generates. The remaining amount escapes to the atmosphere as a natural loss.

Making Your Boiler As Efficient As Possible

The best way to ensure your boiler is cost-effective is to select the appropriate unit at the time of installation, sized to provide enough heating output to supply your building adequately. In most cases, older units should undergo replacement with new, higher-efficiency condensing boilers, both for safety and effectiveness purposes. Regular maintenance to keep your boiler in good shape and operating as designed is also imperative.

Which boiler solution is best for your business? There is no “one size fits all” answer to that question, and in reality, it is difficult to know whether fire-tube or water-tube boilers are most common. Ultimately, boilers are not like air conditioners or furnaces; the right solution will always vary, so opting for the most common option is not necessarily the best choice.

Commercial Boiler

Only a qualified Sonoma County boiler company can make a smart suggestion for which tube-type to opt for when replacing or installing a boiler. However, there is one functionality that is common to commercial boilers that buyers should look for — a condensing feature. Condensing furnaces, both water- and fire-tube types, are the most common and popular solution in Marin for boilers.

Efficiency

 What makes condensing boilers so popular? Efficiency. 

As we’ve explored, cost-effectiveness is an important factor for users of commercial boiler equipment. A typical boiler will only be able to achieve an efficiency rating of about 80%, meaning there are substantial losses that equate to wasted fuel and money. However, new units that feature special “condensers” have changed the game. With a condensing boiler, it is possible to achieve efficiency ratings of 90 to 95% — and perhaps even higher. How?

At its most basic, a boiler is simple to understand. It involves heating water inside of a heavy-duty closed container, sometimes under pressure, to temperatures near and even beyond boiling. The hot water or steam that results from the burning of fuel in the boiler can then circulate throughout the building, allowing the natural radiation of heat to warm spaces evenly and thoroughly. The most common types of heating applications with boilers include traditional radiators, baseboard heaters, and even under-floor tubing for heat transfer.

Compared to air conditioners and modern furnaces, boilers are relatively old technology, with a long history. Modern boilers first appeared about 150 years ago. Let’s take a quick trek back in time to explore the development of the boiler technologies that gave us the systems we know and use today.

The early 1800s

Near the end of the 18th century, a type of boiler known as a “kettle system” was invented. In kettle boilers, water sat above a firebox and was heated directly by the flames, turning the water to steam. These systems drew upon early boiler experiments going as far back as the 1650s, but it was not until the Industrial Revolution that boilers grew into their own. Early boilers were primarily used for steam power, not heating, and drove the rise of the steam locomotive using powerful boilers.

The mid 1800s

Innovation by two American inventors, named Stephen Wilcox and George Babcock, led to the first breakthrough in boiler technology in decades. This safer type of boiler, though inefficient, allowed for the creation of much more steam. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the heating radiator was invented in 1855 by Franz San Galli. Together, the boiler and the radiator allowed for indoor heating on a scale not yet seen before.

The late 1800s

Cast iron radiators begin to proliferate thanks to their safety and better efficiency as boiler technology grew more advanced. More boiler-building companies appeared, and indoor heating driven by boilers begins to take hold, replacing older methods of heating such as wood fires.

The early 1900s

By the 20th century, boilers could generate huge amounts of steam and hot water on an hourly basis. Radiators and commercial boilers for whole-structure heating were now commonplace across the country. As demand increases, more research and development efforts pour into making boilers more efficient than ever.

The late 1900s

Residential boilers appear and provide options for in-home heating once only available to commercial consumers. Advances in materials science and boiler design continue, developing extremely high efficiencies and making boilers one of the best solutions for large-scale heating. These innovations continue into the 21st century, and boilers show no signs of going away any time soon.

What Size Boiler Do I Need?

One common rule of thumb used in the industry is to add 50 BTU for every square foot of space in the building. Naturally, this leads to very high BTU requirements for commercial spaces. Speak to a boiler contractor about conducting a thermal assessment on your building to determine how many BTUs you require for adequate heating.

How Long Do Boilers Last?

Boilers are quite rugged compared to other heating technologies, and commercial units even more so. A typical baseline expectation is about 15 years, but high-quality industrial units may last many decades when appropriately maintained.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Boiler?

Not counting the time necessary for acquisition and shipment of the appropriately sized boiler, it will usually take a few days to complete a brand new boiler installation. Time estimates may vary based on job conditions.

How Often Should I Receive Boiler Service?

Aim for a complete service visit approximately once a year. For buildings that put boilers to work under heavy loads regularly, a visit once every six months may be appropriate to catch any potential faults early. Prevention is always cheaper than repair!