It can be challenging to determine which heating system is better for your home, a furnace or a boiler. It is important to for you to understand the difference between a boiler and a furnace in order to make the best choice. Understanding that a furnace uses air, and a boiler uses water to distribute heat throughout your home is the easiest way to remember the difference. In markedly different ways is how they both operate. Through the blower motor and the home’s duct system, a furnace heats air that is distributed throughout the house and the boiler uses hot water to heat your home. Using a pump to heat baseboard, cast iron radiators, or radiant flooring systems, hot water boilers distribute heat through small hot water pipes using a pump to heat baseboard. Through a network of pipes to heat the radiators in the home, a steam boiler distributes steam. Being capable of running on oil, gas, electricity or alternative fuels such as wood pellets, boilers also known as hydronic heat systems. With all of this in mind, we at Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning would like to continue to discuss these differences between a furnace and a boiler.
How a Boiler & Furnace Works
To influence your decision on how to heat your home, is weighing the pros and cons of each system. Because there is air blowing all around, furnaces use warm air, which creates a drafty environment. Though it is uncomfortable for heating, air movement is great in the summer with cooling. In order to provide steady heat with good temperature consistency, radiant or convection heat such as baseboard or cast-iron radiators are well suited. The dust and allergens are not spread through your home nor is the air dried out like forced air systems with hydronic heating systems. When weighing the comfort, hot water heating is worth the additional cost since a boiler system for heat and central air for cooling is a little more expensive than using the air conditioning ductwork to heat by adding a furnace.
Boiler VS Furnace Maintenance
The type of maintenance required is another difference between these systems. Some contractors suggest changing the air filter of a furnace anywhere from once a month to once a quarter for optimal air quality because the air is blown through the house. For boilers, the maintenance is entirely different. Though a cast iron gas boiler can run for years with minimal maintenance, high boilers and oil boilers, such as a warm air furnace, usually require annual service.
Cost of Boiler or Furnace
Depending on your needs and your budget indicates which one makes more sense for you when it comes to boiler versus furnace. Whether it is initial upfront costs, long-term care and maintenance, as well as preferable environmental comfort, you can rely on the experts to ensure the heating system you select is properly installed.
Boiler & Furnace Sales, Installation, Replacement, Repairs, Maintenance & More in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee & Agawam, Massachusetts
Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning is readily available to provide the Hampshire and Hamden County consumers with all of their heating needs including boilers and furnace repair, installation, replacements, and maintenance services.