Boilers, also known as hydronic or radiant heating systems, use hot water to heat your home. They are not as popular as furnaces, but more people are switching to them due to their numerous advantages over furnace systems.
They are more energy efficient, quieter, and won’t impact indoor air quality. However, you need to choose the right size of boiler system for your home to enjoy these benefits.
As the top boiler service in Cambridge, MA, many people call us to ask, “What size boiler do I need for my house?” Our answer is always, “It depends.”
The right type of boiler system for your house depends on numerous factors. That’s why you need to schedule a professional evaluation before buying one of these systems.
However, we’ll share some general guidance below to help you avoid choosing a boiler that’s too small or too big for your home.
How To Choose the Right Size of Boiler for Your Home
Furnaces and boilers are similar in one area: you can’t choose them blindly.
Manufacturers measure boiler capacity in British Thermal Units (BTUs). It’s a measure of the amount of energy you need to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. So, when considering boiler size, you’re essentially thinking about how many BTUs to go with during your purchase. To arrive at a number, you need to also know your home’s floor size.
Generally, we recommend choosing 35 BTUs per square foot of indoor space for the local climate. So, you’ll need to choose a boiler with a capacity rated at 87,500 BTUs if you live in a 2,500-square-foot home. If you can’t find an exact match, go for the nearest. In this case, you may need to choose a 90,000 or 100,000 BTUs boiler.
If you’re asking, “What size boiler do I need for my house?” you should keep in mind that the numbers above are general recommendations on the right size of boiler to choose.
For more accurate calculations, you’ll have to pay attention to other factors beyond the size of your floor space. A professional HVAC technician looking to size a boiler for your home will look at factors such as:
- The number of doors and windows in your home
- Your home’s current levels of insulation
- Your ceiling height
- The number of windows you have facing outside directly
They will recommend the perfect size of boiler for your home after evaluating these factors.
What Happens If Your Boiler Is Too Small?
A small boiler is cheaper than a bigger one. Thus, it can be tempting to go for a smaller boiler to save money. However, that’s always counterproductive. A smaller boiler will not heat your home to the desired temperatures because it’s too small to affect indoor temperatures. You may get some heating, but it’ll be uneven. Your home will never reach the level of warmth you want. Since the boiler is too small, it will need to run non-stop to meet your heating needs (which it won’t succeed at). The result is a higher energy bill. So, even if you saved money by choosing the smaller system, you’ll give it all back soon — even when you’re still enduring discomfort on the coldest days of the year.
The small boiler will also break down more frequently due to overuse, so you’ll spend more on repairs. You’ll need to pay for a replacement a lot sooner.
What Happens If Your Boiler Is Too Powerful?
It may feel like a good idea to just choose the biggest boiler you can afford for maximum comfort. Unfortunately, an oversized boiler has similar issues to what you can expect with an under-sized one.
If the boiler is too large, it will produce more heat than it can dissipate. The result is a shorter burning time and decreased efficiency. The more frequent on-and-off cycles strain the system and may lead to leaks.
Expert Boiler Installation Services From Your Local Pros
Are you still wondering, “What size boiler do I need for my house?” Do you need a more professional evaluation to find the right boiler size for your home? Turn to the experienced boiler installation experts at Green Energy Mechanical Inc. We excel at providing custom, long-lasting solutions, and we can install each of the different kinds of boiler heating systems.
Are you ready to get your heat and hot water from one unit? Call the Green Energy Mechanical Inc. team in Canton, MA, today at (877) 731-9509 to book an appointment.
