If you have radiators or baseboards rather than vents in your Massachusetts home, then you have a boiler rather than a furnace – and that boiler will have to be replaced one day. If that time is approaching for you, it’s a good idea to know what options are available so you can make the best choice for your home and family.
Here are some boiler basics to get you started – including information about a type of high efficiency boiler you may not be aware of.
All boilers – whether powered by heating oil, propane, or natural gas – extract heat from fuel as it burns; this heat is transferred through a heat exchanger, which then heats the water (or creates steam, depending on the model) that will run through your radiators or baseboards.
The problem is that some heat (as much as 30 percent in some older boiler models) will be lost as exhaust, which means you are paying a lot of money for heat that will never reach your living space.
In a condensing boiler, however, one significant hardware addition – a secondary heat exchanger – dramatically cuts that heat loss. By recycling heat from the exhaust process – and by operating at lower temperatures overall – your condensing boiler can improve operating efficiency by 10-15 percent compared to a non-condensing boiler.
So why aren’t all boilers condensing, considering their obvious efficiency advantages? For one thing, condensing boilers cost more to build, since they need additional parts for the secondary heat exchange process. A second reason? Installing a condensing boiler correctly requires highly trained technicians who know how to capitalize on the efficiency benefits of these sophisticated machines.
The good news is that you can find those highly trained technicians at Needham Oil and Air.
Our technicians will evaluate whether your home heating system would keep you comfortable while operating at the lower temperatures needed for a condensing boiler to deliver its advantages. If you choose to add a condensing boiler, we’ll install it quickly and correctly the first time, with no need for repeat visits.
Needham offers expert installation of boilers from top brands like Biasi, Pensotti, Buderus, Burnham, and Dunkirk – plus repair and service on all makes and models of boilers. Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a boiler that’s just right for you! Serving customers in Needham, Wellesley, Dover, Natick, Lexington, Brookline, and Newton.