Condensing boilers are the most efficient boilers available, and require special attention during installation.
The vast majority of radiant heating systems use a condensing boiler as the main heatsource. A condensing boiler is any boiler that is over 86% efficient. The truth is that most condensing boilers are over 90% efficient.
Savio Condensing Boiler
In order to understand the condensing boiler, we first have to understand the non-condensing boiler, which is less than 86% efficient. In a non-condensing boiler, the exhaust gasses leave the boiler at about 180 degrees. These exhaust gasses are immediately expelled outside through the use of vent pipe or chimney. The reason that these types of boilers are less than 86% efficient is that there is significant heat loss through exhaust.
Non-condensing boilers are less expensive because they are less efficient.
A condensing boiler, on the other hand, incorporates a secondary heat exchanger to remove excess heat from the exhaust gasses. This improves the efficiency of the boiler due to the fact that the heat lost from the exhaust gasses is then “recycled” by the boiler — helping to raise the water temperature. This process actually reduces the temperature of the exhaust significantly. This significant reduction in temperature, from about 180 degrees down to about 55 degrees, condenses the gasses, most of which is water vapor, forming droplets that collect and need to be drained.
This is where the condensing part of a condensing boiler comes in.
