Best Boiler to Buy?

One of the most common home heating systems is a boiler, and that’s especially true for older houses in the Northeast and other cold-climate areas. Boilers heat water, and then distribute hot steam or hot water to rooms through a series of pipes to heat the home. Steam is sent to radiators, while hot water flows to radiators or radiant heating systems. Boilers are fueled by natural gas, heating oil, propane, electricity or a biodiesel-oil blend. New systems are very energy efficient, with efficiencies as high as 98.5 percent.

What Type of Boiler do You Have?

Boilers are called central heating systems because the equipment is in a central location, and the heat is spread throughout the home. However, unlike other heating methods, there is typically a lag time between the boiler turning on and the heat being dispersed.

Most boilers produce steam or hot water using natural gas or heating oil, and all are either condensing or non-condensing (see below). Boilers are required by the federal government to be at least 80 percent efficient, and can have efficiencies as high as 98.5 percent. Some boilers can be expensive to install, but all types typically last 15 to 30 years.

Gas-Fired Boilers

Gas-fired boilers are fueled by either natural gas or propane, and are highly efficient. However, natural gas is not available everywhere, and some homeowners at the end of a gas pipeline pay higher fuel prices. Propane typically is more expensive than natural gas, but it’s available throughout the U.K.

Oil-Fired Boilers

Oil-fired boilers are common in areas that have limited access to natural gas. If you buy a oil-fired boiler, you’ll need heating oil delivered and stored in tanks like the one above, and your operating costs will be affected by the rise and fall of oil prices.

Some boiler manufacturers now offer models that use bio diesel fuel, which produces less pollution than regular heating oil. Depending on oil prices, bio diesel heating oil can be cost-competitive with standard oil. However, because it burns cleaner and lubricates the system, bio diesel fuel can reduce your boiler service and cleaning costs.

Electric Boilers

Electric boilers are highly energy efficient. However, they typically are not economical because electricity costs more than other fuel types in many parts of the country. If you are interested in electric heating, consider a heat pump.

“How the Heat Is Distributed”.

Steam Radiators

Steam heating is one of the oldest heating technologies, and upright metal steam radiators positioned along walls in older homes are common. They can provide consistent, comfortable heat.

Steam radiators need some simple maintenance to work properly and efficiently. In addition, a radiator can wrap or create a groove in the floor. If that happens, the radiator may tilt, causing it to make loud banging noises. Plus, steam radiators on exterior walls can radiate some heat to the outdoors, and limit your ability to position furniture around the room.

Hot Water Radiators

More common in newer homes, hot water radiators run along a room’s baseboard or stand upright like a steam radiator. Hot water radiators can reduce your home’s energy consumption because they allow you to control the temperature of each floor or a large space. A heating professional can install automatic valves on the radiators, and connect them to separate thermostats.

The most common problem with hot water radiators is unwanted air in the system. Plus, like steam models, upright hot water radiators can limit your ability to position furniture.