Knowing you are need of a boiler replacement, but not sure where to go from there? No worries! Just take a look at the various
boiler options laid out below and find the best fit for your needs! But first, here are a few things to consider:
Choosing the right boiler for your needs:
While steam boilers are used few and far between, they are still around to this day. Steam Boilers have a heat exchanger that boils the water and sends it through a system of pipes pushed by pressure and with the force of gravity; this brings cooled water back to the boiler.
2. Hot Water Boiler:
This type of boiler uses a heat exchanger, much like that of the steam boiler. The two tend to differ in the sense that they use pumps to distribute the heat through your home.
In order to work efficiently, natural gas boilers require connectivity to a natural gas line for power. Taking into account secluded or more rural areas where gas lines are unavailable from the main road, residents may use propane. In doing so, the propane or gas supports the pilot light, which in turn warms the boiler heating coils.
Oil Boilers are still fueled by oil, even though they are water-based. That being said, these are more common specifically related to rural areas as natural gas boilers are used there as well.
5. Condensing Boiler:
Condensing Boilers require two separate heat exchangers that will heat the returning water as well as the outgoing water. In doing so, this increases the energy efficiency when it comes to your boiler and offers a lower utility bill for the residence.
Electric Boilers are the most efficient out of all the various residential boilers due to the lack of reliance of gas and oil. Electric boilers offer a more affordable solution when it comes to installation fees; they emit no gas fumes, and are on average quieter than other various boiler options. One thing to note about electric boilers is the cost to run them is normally higher as it requires electricity to run, and therefore if you happen to experience a power outage, this could mean no heat until power is restored.
How efficient are boilers?
When considering efficiency, you will want to double-check the AFUE rating (annual fuel utilization efficiency) for a new residential boiler. You will want to look for an AFUE of 85% or higher specifically when considering high-efficiency systems. Gas systems usually fall between 89%-98%, oil furnace on average run between 80%-90%, and condenser boilers can reach anywhere above 95% if appropriately configured. Electric boilers are the exception reaching nearly 100% efficiency as there is no production of waste-gas.
What about your venting abilities?
One thing to notate when choosing your next boiler is that with different types of boilers requires different
venting requirements for each. Take for instance; if your residence has a chimney, a chimney-vented boiler would easily pair with your ventilation system. Direct-vent boilers, as well as power-vent boilers require access to a roof or a wall vent for functionality. If this is not available, there will need to be one created. Power-vented systems are only available for use in open rooms, just as condensing boilers have particular requirements as well. Check out our article on
low vs high pressure boilers.
What to consider:
Long story short, there is obviously quite a bit to take into consideration when
repairing replacing your old boiler, so if you are overwhelmed or not quite sure what the best boiler option is for your home and your needs, be sure to give Advanced Boilers & Hydronic Heating a call today!
Shopping for a new boiler can be daunting but our skilled technicians are more than happy to walk you through your options and help you find the right solution at an affordable price! Our experienced team will also handle the entire
boiler installation. More questions? Check out our other our section about different
types of boilers.