When it comes to home heating systems, furnaces and boilers are the most prominent systems in use throughout the country. We’ll take a look at each system type, comparing and contrasting them so that you can choose the ideal one for your home.
Boilers
Boilers produce hot water or steam that circulates throughout all the radiators or baseboards in your home. These appliances are well known for their ability to produce even and consistent warmth without any drafting or blowing air, and they can run on electricity, natural gas, propane, or heating oil.
Furnaces
A furnace installation provides another way to heat your home. This appliance, which burns fuel to heat the air, can run on heating oil, natural gas, electricity, or propane. The hot air then travels throughout the ducting in your home to all its rooms. A furnace is great for providing a warm burst of air to heat up your home quickly.
Air Quality
One of the most talked about differences between furnaces and boilers is their effect on indoor air quality. Because furnaces circulate air throughout ductwork, they constantly pick up airborne toxins and spread them throughout your home. Furnaces require a built-in air filter to remove contaminants.
On the other hand, boilers don’t circulate air at all. Since the only thing that a boiler system circulates is steam or hot water, it has no effect on indoor air quality. Boilers can be great for homes with residents with asthma, seasonal allergies, or other respiratory conditions that can be affected by drafts from a forced-air furnace.
Overall Comfort
One noticeable difference between furnaces and boilers is the comfort level they produce. Furnaces can heat the air quickly, which is nice when the weather suddenly turns cold. However, after the furnace runs through its heating cycle, the air will cool off. Furnaces produce more notable temperature swings than you’ll find with a boiler system.
Boilers tend to produce more even and consistent warmth throughout your home. Because they don’t blow air or drafts throughout your space, there is no massive swing in temperature to make you uncomfortable. Many people note that boiler warmth feels more like gentle sunlight warming up from all directions instead of a blast of hot air into the room.
Warming Speed
When you turn your heater on after it’s been sitting idle for a while, it helps to have a system that can heat up quickly. Furnaces are the best option for quick heating, as they can produce a noticeable difference in temperature in five to 10 minutes. Boilers typically take 10 to 30 minutes to do the same.
This is because a boiler system takes longer to heat water as compared to heating air with a furnace. Once your home gets warm, a boiler system will be able to keep it consistently warm. A furnace will kick on and off with a hot blast of air followed by a cooling-off period.
Operating Efficiency
Another comparison you need to make when selecting a heating system concerns its operating efficiency. Modern-day condensing boilers can reach efficiency levels of 90% to 95%. High-efficiency furnaces can reach an efficiency rating of 90% to 98%.
However, operating efficiency is not the only factor to think about. it’s also important to consider the comfort your system can produce. Many homeowners find that boilers produce more comfort at a lower thermostat setting than furnaces do. This can lead to lower overall heating costs for a boiler as compared to a furnace.
Installation Cost
As with any purchasing decision, the up-front price plays a big role in your choice of heating system. As long as you have existing ductwork in your home, a furnace is the cheapest option to install. Electric furnaces are typically the cheapest to install, followed by gas and then oil. High-efficiency furnaces cost more than standard-efficiency furnaces.
The cost of a boiler is usually one and a half to two times that of a typical furnace. Because boiler systems are more complex and have more moving parts, their installation tends to take twice as long. They require adequate draining of the entire previous system before the new system can be installed.
Lifespan
The overall lifespan of a boiler depends on the material the appliance is made of. Aluminum and steel boilers typically last about 15 to 20 years. Those made of cast-iron or stainless steel can last 25 to 35 years with proper care and maintenance. Furnaces that burn heating oil, natural gas, or propane have a useful life of 15 to 20 years. Furnaces that run on electricity can last 20 to 30 years with proper servicing.
Homes Lacking Ductwork
Furnaces can be a great option for newly built homes, as ductwork can easily be installed in the house’s framework before the finishing materials are attached. Unfortunately, adding ductwork to older homes is quite costly and invasive. Boiler systems can be a great alternative. While they do require some invasive installation for installing the water piping between units, it’s nowhere near as disruptive as ductwork installation.
Maintenance Requirements
To keep either a boiler or a furnace in good working condition, it needs to receive annual maintenance service by one of our professional technicians. Apart from this yearly service, a furnace will need regular filter changes about every two to three months. When it comes to a boiler, a homeowner needs to monitor the pressure level to ensure that it’s operating within a safe range. Boilers may need flushing from time to time, and it’s best to hire a professional technician to perform this task.
Cooling Compatibility
One other thing you should consider is how your new heating system will integrate with your home cooling system to deliver year-round comfort. If you choose to heat your home with a boiler, there are no components that it can share with a home cooling system. Many homeowners opt for installing a ductless mini-split system. It can be utilized as a central air conditioning system since it lacks the ductwork involved with operating a boiler.
On the other hand, furnaces have ductwork and a blower compartment that can work with a central air conditioning system. This means you can easily integrate a central air conditioner with your existing setup to provide adequate home cooling throughout the summer months.
Expert Heating System Installation Services
Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing offers expert heating system installation services for the Wheat Ridge, CO community. We can also assist with all your heating replacement, tune-up, and repair needs.
Contact our team at Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today to book your next service consultation with one of our heating technicians.
