Industrial boilers and residential boilers are very different appliances that do essentially the same thing. However, they have some very significant differences. It is important to know these differences going forward so that you are well-informed about types of boilers and what to expect for boiler installations.
Residential Boilers Are Small, Industrial Boilers Are Huge
Residential boilers are about the size of most medium electrical furnaces. They have to be, or they would not fit inside your home. Industrial boilers are humongous. Again, they have to be as they are providing heat and energy to an industrial plant that is far larger than two or three city blocks. There is room in an industrial plant for these boilers, too, which is why boiler manufacturers can build these boilers as big as they do.
Installing the Two Types of Boilers
A residential boiler can be installed in a couple hours or less. An industrial boiler will take at least a full day, if not two. Both are bolted to the floor, but residential boilers only require hex nut bolts, while the bolts that secure the industrial boiler are numerous and much larger than the bolts used to secure a residential boiler. Additionally, welding may be required to secure the industrial boiler's bolts and floor restraints to keep it from rattling, moving and shaking.
Tiny Wires versus Cables the Size of Your Wrist
Electricity is the most readily available power source for boilers. As such, both types of boilers need to be connected to the electrical power in the home and industrial plant. The difference here, however, is that the wires used to hook up a residential boiler are fairly standard home electrical wires. An industrial boiler has electrical cables roped together, and almost all of them are the size of your wrist because the industrial boiler requires that much electrical power.
In addition to the size of the wires versus cables, industrial plants often have to upgrade their electrical boxes to meet power demands for the new boiler. Residential boilers rarely, if ever, require that you upgrade your electrical box to support the power needs of your new boiler. Check with your electrical contractor or electrician to make sure your new industrial boiler has access to enough power to work properly.
Other Fuel and Energy Sources
Home boilers may also use oil or gas to operate. So do industrial boilers, but industrial boilers are now available to use solar power as well. This may help reduce operating costs for industrial plants that need their boilers to run 24/7.
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