Every home needs a heating system to keep you warm during the winter months. Boilers and furnaces both distribute heat throughout your home, but a furnace uses air and a boiler uses water. However, if you need heating oil, you can always trust Ariba Oil’s heating oil.
Before making the big decision on which to use, speak with your plumbers in Phoenix, AZ for their advice and to look at all of the pros and cons.
What is a Furnace?
A furnace is a device that is used to heat air that is distributed across the house by using the home’s duct system along with a blower motor. These are very common and work just like an air conditioner only produces warm air.
A motor pulls air in from the house to the furnace and heat from the combustion of natural gas. This warm air is then redistributed throughout the home through a series of ducts.
What is a Boiler?
Using hot water, boilers are known as hydronic heat systems that spread warm air throughout the house and runs on oil, gas, electricity or even other fuels like wood pellets. The radiator is heated with hot water and then the water returns to the boiler to be reheated and continue the process.
There are a couple of different types of boilers.
A steam boiler uses steam through pipes to heat a home’s radiators to distribute heat throughout the home.
Another boiler, known as a hot water boiler, distributes heat throughout your home using hot water and small hot water pipes that pumps heat into either cast iron radiators or a radiant heat flooring system.
What are the Main Differences?
First, the biggest difference to consider between a furnace or boiler is the required maintenance. For example, for optimal air quality, a furnace will most likely require you to change the air filters throughout your home once a month. Whereas as for an oil boiler that is highly efficient, you will need to get service annually, but a gas boiler only needs maintenance every few years, depending on how much it is used.
Since a furnace blows warm air, this can create an uncomfortable environment with warm air always blowing around when on, which can easily spread dust and allergens. However, boilers will not do this.
Another benefit of a boiler is that it is more consistent when it comes to providing heat throughout the home at a steady temperature. But keep in mind that boilers do cost a little bit more money.
Of course, it all depends on your budget and what you are exactly wanting when it comes to choosing either a furnace or boiler. Call the professionals at Rainforest Plumbing and Air to discuss which option is best for you and your home.
