Firetube Boilers vs Watertube Boilers: Which Is Right for You?
Learn the basic pros and cons of watertube and firetube boilers.
When purchasing a new boiler, you will have many different makes and models to choose from. This may include the option of either a firetube boiler or a watertube boiler. The factors to be considered when making your choice can get highly technical, so in reality your best bet is to go with whatever type of boiler is recommended by your contractor or architect in the case of new construction, or your boiler specialist in the case of a replacement boiler.
However, it can still be beneficial to understand in broad strokes the differences between firetube and watertube boilers and the pros and cons of each.
How Different Types of Boilers Work
The main difference between firetube boilers and watertube boilers is explained by their names. In a watertube boiler, the heating element acts directly on tubes filled with water, which run through the furnace casing, to produce the needed steam or super-hot water. In a firetube boiler, the heating element produces hot water through a more indirect mechanism. The hot flue gases generated by the boiler’s combustion are channeled into tubes and routed through a water tank, and the heat transfer from these “firetubes” creates the needed hot water or steam.
Pros & Cons of Firetube Boilers
Firetube boilers are best suited for single building applications and are more often used for heat than for industrial processes. The main advantages of firetube boilers include the fact that they are less expensive to purchase. They may be 50 to 60 percent the cost of a watertube boiler. Firetube boilers are easy to clean and repair because maintenance can be performed from outside the unit rather than inside.
The main drawback of firetube boilers is that they tend to have smaller capacities and cannot handle high pressures over 250 psig. The steam capacity range of firetube boilers might be 5,000 to 75,000 pounds/hr and hot water capacity might be 2 million to 100 million Btus.
Pros & Cons of Watertube Boilers
Watertube boilers are the boiler of choice for industrial process applications and are used much less frequently for building heating purposes. The main advantage of watertube boilers is their increased capacity, including the ability to handle greater pressures up to 5,000 psig and very high temperatures, which offers superior steam generation—in the millions of pounds/hr.
The drawbacks of watertube boilers include a higher initial cost since the systems are bigger and contain more steel. Another issue is that cleaning is more difficult, with many tasks having to be completed from inside the unit.
Need Boiler Service?
No matter which type of boiler you may decide on, The Stanley Louis Company can provide the quality maintenance you need at a fair price. Please call 800-217-6527 to learn more about our boiler service.
