3 Reasons to Choose Boiler Heating Over Forced Air Furnaces
Posted on: 1 February 2021
Most American homeowners rely on forced air furnaces to provide heating when the mercury drops, but if you are looking for an efficient, effective heating system for your home, conventional furnaces aren't the only option. Boiler-based heating systems are commonly found in older homes and apartment buildings, but these unique home heating systems are enjoying a recent resurgence in popularity.
Boiler heating can have numerous advantages over forced air furnace heating, and many people living in brand new buildings are choosing steam or hot water boilers to keep their homes warm and comfortable. Here are three reasons to choose a boiler heating system instead of a forced-air furnace for your home:
1. Increased Efficiency
Boilers usually cost more to purchase and install than forced air furnaces, but while upfront costs may be higher, they can represent a better long-term investment. Water and steam transmit heat more effectively than heated air. As a result, boiler heating requires significantly less energy than forced-air heating to provide the same amount of usable heat.
This translates to lower long-term running costs, and choosing a boiler over a furnace can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills. Hot water boilers, also known as hydronic boilers, are considered to be especially energy-efficient because they cost less to run than steam boilers and forced air furnaces.
2. Even Heating
Forced air furnaces expel heated air through ducts and vents positioned throughout your home. If your home is poorly ventilated, this hot air can take a while to circulate and fill every corner of a room. This can lead to 'hot spots' beneath furnace ducts and vents, while the edges and corners of your rooms remain uncomfortably cool.
Boiler heating systems can provide more even heating throughout your home, and are much less likely to produce hot spots. Wall and floor-mounted radiators are positioned at the edges of your rooms, preventing cool areas from forming at the edges of your home. Boilers can also be used to provide hot water or steam for under-floor heating systems, which can heat entire homes at an even rate.
3. Improved Air Quality
The ducts and vents that distribute a furnace's heat can become clogged with dust, dirt, and debris over time. Unless you have your ducts cleaned regularly, this unpleasant particulate matter can be distributed into your home whenever you activate the furnace, lowering air quality and potentially provoking unpleasant allergic reactions. Forced air heating also tends to dry out the air inside a home, forcing you to rely on humidifiers.
Choosing a boiler system can be an excellent way to maintain high air quality levels inside your home, especially if you live in a heavily polluted urban area. For more information, contact boiler installation companies.
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