When your heating system isn’t keeping your family warm, call the experts at Green Energy Mechanical Inc. at (781) 236-3421 to find and fix the issue.
If you are building a new home or it’s time to replace the heating system in your existing one, you have many choices. Although many New Englanders rely on a furnace to keep them warm during the winter, a boiler is also an efficient means of heating.
To help you make the best decision, here we explain the difference between a furnace and a boiler, what you need to know about how they work, their pros and cons, and what to expect from them. As Canton’s expert HVAC services provider, we work with all types of heating and cooling systems and will help you choose the perfect setup to keep your home toasty warm during even the coldest Massachusetts winters.
Furnace and Boiler Basics
The only thing that furnaces and boilers have in common is that they both warm your home. Otherwise, the difference between a furnace and a boiler is substantial.
A furnace is a forced air system, meaning it heats the air and then pushes it through ductwork throughout the home. A boiler uses water to create heat. The unit heats the water to boiling and sends either the heated water or steam through a series of pipes in the baseboards, radiators, or under the floor, creating radiant heat.
Furnaces run on oil, natural gas, propane, or electricity, while boilers can use the same fuels or wood pellets to keep your home warm.
Which Heating System Will Make Your Home Most Comfortable?
Either a furnace or a boiler can keep your home warm on cold days. But when it comes to total comfort, there are a few key differences between a furnace and a boiler to consider.
Air Quality
Because a furnace uses a blower to force heated air through ductwork, it can also blow contaminants into the air. Dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and more can accumulate inside the ducts and eventually affect the indoor air quality. If your family has respiratory issues or allergies, running the furnace can potentially exacerbate their symptoms.
Humidity
Furnaces do an excellent job of creating consistent warmth throughout the house, but heating the air removes moisture. At higher temperatures, it can become uncomfortably dry indoors, and it might be necessary to invest in a humidifier to add more water to the air. A hydronic heating system, on the other hand, doesn’t dry out the air and helps maintain comfortable humidity, so it stays comfortable.
Practical Considerations for a Heating System
Although a boiler might make your home more comfortable in terms of air quality and humidity, it has a few drawbacks. Boilers are significantly more expensive than furnaces to install initially. They don’t require ductwork, but if the pipes that carry the heated water burst or develop leaks (which is a risk during freezing temperatures and power outages), the resulting leak can cause widespread water damage.
Furnaces, in contrast, cost less and take less time to install, even with the required ductwork. Most issues with furnaces are a consequence of deferred maintenance, but those powered by natural gas are at risk for dangerous gas leaks.
Both furnaces and boilers require regular, ongoing maintenance to operate safely and at maximum efficiency. It’s imperative to change furnace air filters regularly (usually every 30 to 45 days for the average household) to preserve air quality and prevent excessive wear and tear on the mechanical components. Annual professional maintenance to clean the equipment and ensure all the critical parts are in good working condition is also necessary for both furnaces and boilers; some types, like cast iron boilers, only need professional attention every few years.
Ultimately, deciding whether a furnace or a boiler is best for your home comes down to the budget, whether you prefer to work with existing ductwork or a pipe system, and individual preferences regarding comfort and air quality. There’s no wrong answer, just the one that works best for your family and home.
Let Green Energy Mechanical Inc. Install the Best Heating System for Your Needs
If you have additional questions about the difference between a furnace and a boiler or already know you want to upgrade an old gas furnace with a modern, more efficient heating system, give the Canton-based team at Green Energy Mechanical Inc. a call at (781) 236-3421 to explore your options.
Author Bio:
Jonathan Neves
Worked in the HVAC industry since he was 17. He started as an HVAC service technician for commercial buildings and eventually came into the residential market because of his love of working with people. He believes that what really sets Green Energy Mechanical apart is how long they stand behind their work and how compassionate his employees are for their clients.
