Decide Between a Furnace or Boiler Heating System with the Help of a Heating Contractor in Kalamazoo, MI

If you are looking to upgrade your heating system, you will soon be contacting a heating contractor in Kalamazoo, MI. You may be ready to make the call, but can’t quite decide if a furnace system or boiler heating system will be best for your home. In order to make an informed decision about which system is best for you and your family, you must first understand the differences between the two systems.

The case for furnaces

Furnaces operate by heating air and then pushing it with a motored blower through an air filter and ductwork into your home. Furnaces are used in most homes because they have the capabilities to heat your home during the winter, but they can also be used as a central air conditioning system when the warm weather swings back around. Add this multi-dimensionality to the distinctively cheaper installation costs of furnaces, and you have a system that is as cost-effective as it is flexible. The filters in the furnace can also improve the air quality in your home. However, if these filters are not changed often enough, the dust and debris can pose problems if they are blown into your home with the forced air.

Another downside of furnaces is that the ductwork that is such an important part of furnace heating sometimes operates noisily while transporting the warm air, while boilers operate almost completely silently. It is also harder to achieve the perfect temperature with furnace heat due to the fact that air is consistently being blown out of the vents. Although this air is warm, the blowing movement produces an inherently drafty feel, and you might find yourself constantly fiddling with the thermostat in frustration.

The case for boilers

A boiler system heats water in a tank, and then pumps the water through piping into radiators, baseboards or radiant flooring. Boilers also have the capacity to double up, and can serve as the source of hot water in your home in addition to providing heat. You will have more control with a boiler system, with the ability to tailor the temperature in each room with zone heating. Should you chose the radiant flooring method of heating, you will be able to walk barefoot on your heated floors comfortably during the coldest months of the year. The heat will also have a much more consistent and uniform feel, because there will be no air blowing to transport the heat.

The major drawback with boilers is that they can be very expensive to install, with the highest-efficiency boilers costing more than $5,000. And since the hot water is transported through pipes, minimum usage and temperatures will have to be maintained to avoid frozen pipes and costly repairs. These systems also lack the ability to be flexed into central air during the summer, and an additional system will have to be installed.

Both systems come with their own advantages and disadvantages, which can either be negated or amplified by your specific situation. For help with an analysis of your home’s needs, contact All Brands Heating and Cooling. With over 20 years of experience as a trusted heating contractor in Kalamazoo, MI, we will provide you with the trusted guidance you need to select the system that will be the most efficient in your home.

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