The method of heating you choose for your home matters. Not only will affect the comfort level of your home, but it'll also affect your energy usage. The amount of energy you're using will then affect your energy bills each month. In order to make a good choice for your heating needs, it helps to understand the differences between different heating methods. Let's take a look at furnaces and boilers to help you better understand which option is best for you.

Boilers

A boiler is a heating system that uses steam from hot water to heat a space. The boiler uses natural gas, oil, electricity, or in some cases even wood pellets. These are burned to heat up the water in the system to a very hot temperature. This is done through the use of a special pump that heats radiant flooring systems, cast iron radiators, or baseboard radiators throughout the home. These are often effective means of heating a house evenly as they do not have blowers.

Furnaces

A furnace is a system that pushes warm air through a system using blowers. The system also works on oil, natural gas, propane, or electricity. The air is heated up and pushed through the ductwork of the home with a blower. This creates a high ambient temperature in the home. The air is sometimes overly dry though because it's being heated with air.

Central Heat Options

Both boilers and furnaces can be used in conjunction with air conditioning systems to also cool the home in the summer. These can be a cohesive central HVAC system. It's necessary to work with qualified HVAC professionals for boiler installation or furnace installation.

Maintenance

Both boiler and furnace systems will require regular maintenance in order to work properly for long periods of time. However, boilers are known for having fewer maintenance requirements. Usually, our team has found that these systems simply need an annual service tune-up by a professional. Furnaces, however, often require an annual inspection and filter changes quarterly. According to Data Scope reports, regular furnace and HVAC maintenance helps reduce the risk of costly breakdowns by up to 95%.

These are just a few facts you should know about boilers and furnaces. If you're in need of heating services or a boiler installation, please contact us at Viglione Heating & Cooling.