Boilers and furnaces are two types of home heating equipment that many people often confuse. This isn’t surprising given that both of these units supply heat to commercial and residential buildings. This, however, is where the similarity ends. Even though both systems share the common purpose of indoor heating, one is very different from the other. As a homeowner, you will have to choose a system for your home. The system you choose will depend on the layout of your property and your heating needs. As such, it is vital to understand a boiler vs. a furnace, their differences, and the advantages of each.
This article will talk about some of the basic differences that lie between these two heating system types.
Boilers are large-sized, closed containers in which water or another liquid is warmed up to generate steam or vapor. This is the central component of many heating systems. It is also a main component that contributes to heat distribution and emission.
When water or liquid is used for heating purposes, this is called a radiator system or a hydronic heating system. Apart from the actual boiler, the entire system is comprised of piping, a circulator pump, radiators, and the baseboard. These are all installed in different spaces and rooms for proper heat distribution. Residential boilers can have very few components or many, depending on how much space and how many rooms require heating in the home.
A furnace uses air to generate heat. This system is capable of distributing warm air to many rooms. A lot of people refer to this heating system type as a forced-air heater. With it, room-temperature or cool air is forced through a heat exchanger where it gets warmed up. Once heated, it is passed through HVAC ductwork for distribution. There are three furnace types that property owners can choose from: downflow, upflow, and horizontal. They can use induction, gas, electricity, or oil to get the job done.
How they operate is the primary difference between a furnace and a boiler. Boilers produce warmth by heating liquid or water within a sealed container. This system then pushes hot water through a series of pipes that travel throughout the building. The pipes are heated by the hot water so that sufficient heat is generated for warming up the interior rooms. As long as a boiler is capable of producing steam or hot water, it will be able to keep the building warm.
Conversely, a furnace heating system relies on a heat exchanger. With this process, the furnace heats air rather than liquid or water. The air is then moved about the home to create warmer indoor temperatures. A blower motor is used to circulate this air so that it is effectively moved through the ductwork and vents.
Heating up air requires more energy than heating up water. Due to this fact, furnaces tend to use more fuel over a shorter period of time than boilers. When it comes to heating equipment cost, boilers tend to be pricier, but they can also be a lot more durable than furnaces. This, of course, will additionally depend on how well homeowners are maintaining this equipment.
Below, we’ll talk about some of the benefits and drawbacks of owning a boiler.
Following, we will talk about some of the benefits and drawbacks that having a furnace entails.
At the end of the day, whether you choose a furnace or a boiler will largely depend upon the nature of the building that you’re trying to heat. It also depends on the magnitude of your heating and cooling requirements. If you’re changing out an old and outdated heating system to have a new one installed, you’ll be delighted to discover that many new furnace and boiler models have high-efficiency ratings. Thus, you can enjoy significant savings with these products over time. If you aren’t sure which system type is going to be right for you, get professional advice from a trusted, local HVAC contractor.
Tower Energy is the leading expert in the area of heating and cooling solutions. Our technicians are all NATE-certified and possess ample experience in helping you with all of your home comfort issues. You can trust us to give you the most competitive prices locally. Moreover, for your satisfaction, we proudly stand behind all of the work that we perform. Give Tower Energy a call now to get your free, in-home consultation and estimate.
Contact us now or call us at (860) 677-7347 to find out more.