I often get questions from clients about the difference between boiler heat vs furnace heat. I have noticed that most grew up with forced air and don’t know much different, or come from climates that don’t have boiler heat.
I need to preface this article by saying I’m a big fan of boilers and strongly prefer them to forced air systems, so this post may or may not be a little biased.
First things first, let’s briefly go over how a boiler system works. In short, boilers operate by heating water, typically using natural gas. The heated water is then sent through a system of radiators throughout the home.
What are the benefits of having a boiler heating system in your home? Glad you asked!
Boiler heat systems are more cost-effective to run. Water is a more effective method of transferring heat than air, so boilers provide heat more efficiently. They also are typically lower maintenance than forced air systems. We have our 35+ year old boiler cleaned in the fall every year, I bleed out the radiators (a very simple task!), and that’s it. We have had a few parts fail here and there but they have been very inexpensive to replace (depending on who services the boiler of course!). In general, they have less moving parts to fix/repair than forced air systems do.
Boilers also tend to heat homes more comfortably than forced air systems.
With forced air systems, warm air enters a room and rises to the ceiling. Boiler systems transfer heat from object to object, keeping it near the floor of the room where it can be better felt.
Boilers are durable and long-lasting!
With fewer moving parts boilers undergo less stress to function. You can expect a boiler to outlast most other types of heating systems: while heat pumps have a 10–15 year average lifespan, and furnaces typically 15–20, boilers can last up to three decades (maybe more!) when cared for properly by a professional. I have a client who owns a home with an original boiler from circa 1922 and it is still chugging along (see photo).
Boilers tend to help improve your indoor air quality. Boilers are not blowing or pushing air around the home like furnaces do and therefore are not moving around dust/dirt/hair. Also, because boilers heat with water, they don’t dry out the air in your home.
Of course, boiler heat systems have some negatives too. Radiators can take up valuable floor space in your home, they are heat-only systems, and adding A/C isn’t as “easy” as with forced air, and they can heat slower in the beginning (they take a bit to warm up!).
If you ever need your boiler replaced or serviced, I cannot recommend Boehm’s Heating and Air Conditioning enough! They are my go-to recommendation for boilers, especially old ones.