When Your Air Conditioner Won't Work

Comparing Boilers And Furnaces

3 April 2018 by Clara Fernandez

Boilers and furnaces are the two most popular heat sources for central HVAC systems. Both options have certain drawbacks and advantages that you need to consider. Depending on where you live, your heating needs, the design of your home, and a number of other factors, one could be much more practical than the other. This article looks at the main differences between a central boiler and a central furnace.

Furnaces

Central furnaces seem to be the more common heating choice in modern construction. A furnace heats air by burning fuel. It then circulates that air into the house through a central duct system that is within the walls. Large gauge ducks enable the fast and efficient movement of air and circulation on homes with multiple levels. Duct systems work perfectly in modern homes that have hollow walls encased with drywall.

Most furnaces are hybrids. That is, they are powered by both gas and electricity. This helps to reduce electricity consumption and makes them cheaper to run.

Boilers

Boilers work in a different way. A boiler heats water with fuel. This water is then circulated through pipes within the walls and floors of the building. Through radiant heat, the pipes heat at the surfaces and the air. There are also wall-mounted radiators from where you can control the airflow from room to room. That is, some rooms will have radiators that can be adjusted. The radiator is also where the hot water is recirculated back to the boiler to be heated up again (since it cooled down in the process of traveling through the pipes)

Wall mounted metal radiators often evoke an old fashioned look. These are definitely more common on large brick and mortar buildings. This is partly because the small pipes of a boiler are more practical in a building that has solid walls. Of course, in the past, before drywall was commonly used in residential construction, heating with boilers and radiators made more sense because there was limited space for the pipes.

But, even in many modern buildings, boilers are more practical because of the smaller pipes. Some people also prefer radiant heat over forced air. Forced air can create flows and drafts that can make the air feel dry.

In the end, the best solution for your home really depends on your property type. However, you can make either system work in most homes if you have a strong preference. For more information, contact a business such as Rickett Industrial Environmental Systems.

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