Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Birmingham, Al.
    Posts
    41

    Default Boiler/Water Heater

    Just for my general understanding, what is the difference between a boiler and water heater? (FYI, I am not in the trade, just find this to be an interesting forum.)

    Similar Threads:
    OREP Insurance

  2. #2
    Zibby Bujno's Avatar
    Zibby Bujno Guest

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    boiler - used to heat water in hydronic heating system (baseboards)
    water heater - used to heat up domestic water (sink, shower, etc)


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    BOILER. A self-contained appliance from which hot water is circulated for heating purposes and then returned to the boiler, and which operates at water pressures not exceeding 160 pounds per square inch gage (psig) (1102 kPa gauge) and at water temperatures not exceeding 250°F (121°C).

    WATER HEATER. Any heating appliance or equipment that heats potable water and supplies such water to the potable hot water distribution system.

    (from the IRC)

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Birmingham, Al.
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Zibby and Jerry, thanks. Your posts make the difference quite clear to me. Merry Christmas!


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Succasunna NJ
    Posts
    577

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Now, to make things interesting, a water heater can be used as a heating appliance.

    Darren www.aboutthehouseinspections.com
    'Whizzing & pasting & pooting through the day (Ronnie helping Kenny helping burn his poots away!) (FZ)

  6. #6
    Zibby Bujno's Avatar
    Zibby Bujno Guest

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Only if its desihned for it (ex Rennai units) and at that point it would be a boiler


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Zibby Bujno View Post
    Only if its desihned for it (ex Rennai units) and at that point it would be a boiler
    It would still be a water heater unless the pressure/temperature exceeded that of a water heater, in which case it would no longer be suitable for use as a water heater, then, yes, it would be a boiler.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    open systems (outlets for use, regular flushing, replenishment) such as a potable system may use a water heater. closed systems, i.e. without distribution outlet require boilers. Stagnation and dead ends are unsanitary, and should never be present in a potable system.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Darren Miller View Post
    Now, to make things interesting, a water heater can be used as a heating appliance.
    Correct.

    The water heater portion of the tank heats the water and feeds the domestic hot water system while the closed system of the tank (a coil located within the tank) circulates heated water through the heating system ... however, that is still a water heater, those models just have additional components which supply heated water to a closed heating system.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,809

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    How about:
    A boiler can heat water as well as boil it. A water heater can only heat water and should never boil the water.

    So boilers are heaters : heaters are not boilers.


  11. #11
    Zibby Bujno's Avatar
    Zibby Bujno Guest

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    ...those models just have additional components which supply heated water to a closed heating system.
    Not exactly. Its a boiler with heat exchanger and expansion tank (different designs) to heat domestic water. Again, its not a water heater, but a boiler


  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Boiler/Water Heater

    Quote Originally Posted by Zibby Bujno View Post
    Not exactly. Its a boiler with heat exchanger and expansion tank (different designs) to heat domestic water. Again, its not a water heater, but a boiler
    The ones I've seen posted here (have not seen one in real life ... heat - what is 'heat'?) ... are water heaters with internal coils for heating the water for heating systems - those are still "water heaters".

    I suppose you could have a boiler with a coil for heating water taken to a hot water storage tank, but you would need to be concerned about the temperature of the water and the pressure of the system (the pressure of the system should be independent of the pressure of the boiler, but the temperature of the water would not be independent of the boiler).

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •