Monday, January 30, 2017

Boiler vs Furnace - The Pros and Cons

When it comes to heating systems for homes and other buildings, you are offered two choices – boilers and furnace. Making the right choice is important as it affects many significant aspects including the parts and labour costs, power efficiency and maintenance. The discussion below will help you make the best choice by providing for you the necessary information about boilers and furnace.


The Major Difference

How is a boiler different from a furnace? The answer to this question explains why one of these will be a better option for your house. Both heating systems offer their own pros and cons. However, understanding the primary difference between boilers and furnace will help you make a more well-informed decision leading to the best results.
The major difference lies in how both the systems function. As the name implies, a boiler distributes heat through the circulation of hot water. On the other hand, a furnace makes use of hot air which is distributed throughout a building by means of ducts to maintain a warm temperature indoors. The circulation of this air is maintained with the help of a blower motor. A boiler heating system consists of more parts as compared to a furnace. Its major parts include water boilers, radiators and a network of pipes.
Choosing a Boiler

Residential Boiler

Discussed here are the positive aspects of choosing a boiler over a furnace.
  • It will be wise to go for a water boiler if you cannot stand a drafty environment which might get suffocating. Such an environment is created through the circulation of warm air by a furnace. It can, therefore, get uncomfortable. On the other hand, no such issue is created if we use a boiler for heating purposes.
  • Water boilers make use of cast iron radiators or flooring systems for the circulation of heat. The mechanism for this heat circulation is radiation or convection. It ensures steady circulation throughout a building. As a result, the indoors temperature remains quite consistent if you use a boiler.
  • In case of a furnace, the circulating air through ducts often distributes dust, allergens and disease-causing microorganisms. Maintaining warmth in your house by means of a furnace may cost you your health.

Choosing a Furnace

A furnace may lead to a few negative results, but you might still want to choose one over a boiler due to the following reasons.
  • Hydronic heating systems are more expensive than a furnace. The cost of all the parts as well installation charges might cross your budget.
  • A furnace heating system makes use of the same duct system used for air conditioning during the summer season. Therefore, you save time as well as installation cost.
  • Although boilers do not require frequent maintenance, cleaning a radiator takes a great deal of time as well as effort.

Conclusion


These were the pros and cons of both the heating systems. Choosing the best one depends on personal requirements as well as the budget. Make a wise choice which leads to the most effective heating and the least maintenance.

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