Non-condensing gas equipment is the original type of gas appliance, and is typically around 82% efficient. The loss of heat takes place mainly due to the combustion gases carrying some of the heat energy out through the chimney. Yes that's right, up and out the chimney. Obviously this is wasteful, and with the rising costs, and the inevitable shortage of fuel, doesn't seem sensible. This concept is what led to the development of the condensing gas boiler.

   How condensing boilers work:

One of the hot gases produced in the combustion process is water vapor (steam), which arises from burning the hydrogen content of the fuel. A condensing boiler extracts additional heat from the waste gases by condensing this water vapor to liquid water, thus recovering its latent heat.    A typical increase of efficiency can be as much as 10-12%. The effectiveness of this condensing process varies, it depends upon the temperature of the water returning to the boiler, but for the same conditions, it is always at least as efficient as a non-condensing boiler.  The same is true for a condensing furnace with one exception; the rate of condensation in this case depends on the temperature or the air returning to the appliance; however the return air is always cool enough to create condensation (lower than 90 degrees F). Either way the more condensation you produce the more heat you are recovering from the flue gases and therefore getting to the living area you are trying to heat, thus raising your efficiency rate.

     Another way we have achieved higher efficiency is by way of modulation. Modulation is the ability of a gas fired appliance to have a variable firing rate depending on demand. In a traditional gas appliance, there would be a BTU rating for the appliance, and when that appliance gets a call for heat it fires at full blast whether you need it or not. So what this means is if your boiler or furnace is rated at 100,000 BTU s per hour, when there is a call for heat, even if 50,000 BTU s would have sufficed, it does not have the ability to fire at the lower rate which would  save energy, instead, it fires at the set rate of 100,000 BTU s per hour, which inevitably gets wasted.

     A modulating boiler can have multiple firing rates which are called upon based on demand for heat. For example a modulating boiler might have a firing rate ranging from 50 to 200,000 BTU s. This allows the boiler to fire only at the rate needed based on demand. The different rates are often called steps, maybe this boiler fires at 50-75-100-125-150-175-200 BTU s per hour only, we have not gotten to the point where you can have 150 steps on this boiler however.

    Tank less water heaters are adapting to these energy efficient characteristics as well, on top of modulation and condensation they have added another concept to again save on fuel costs and that is to create and on-demand tank less heater. Normally in order to have enough hot water to take a shower or wash clothes you have to have an ample storage of hot water on hand. This is part of the problem, we are spending money on fuel to KEEP the water hot all day. Thirty, 40 , 50 and higher capacity tanks burning fuel on standby, trying to maintain the temperature 24/7. With the on-demand concept the water is only heated during the duration of time that the hot water tap is open. Needless to say not heating and maintaining a large vessel of water is a huge savings.

    So between condensing and modulating of the gas appliances and on-demand tank less equipment, great strides have been made increasing efficiency to heights of 96%!, Which can greatly reduce our heating costs, conserve fuel and help save the planet!    

Here at Mike Espinola Plumbing Heating Cooling we have a growing company and we have extensive experience in the installation and service of latest high efficiency equipment. We continue to stay up to date on the newest high efficiency equipment as new technologies emerge. Mike Espinola Plumbing Heating Cooling is your professional connection to these new technologies and can bring them to your family with safe and professional installations.