There are many different types of home heating unit available to today’s residential homeowners, yet furnaces and boilers continue to top the charts in terms of popularity. This article focuses on the differences between these two popular heating units in Toledo OH, taking a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them, in order to help homeowners make the right choice.
Heating Mechanism
While boilers work by heating up water to distribute heat throughout a home, pumping this hot water to baseboards, radiators, or radiant flooring systems, furnaces heat up the air and distribute it via the home’s duct system. While furnaces typically run on natural gas, boilers can run on gas, oil, or even electricity.
Consistency of Heat
Boilers provide radiant or convection heat, which tends to be steady and consistent in temperature. Furnaces, on the other hand, must blow warm air through the house. This sometimes causes uncomfortable air drafts.
Maintenance Required
Furnaces have air filters that must be changed anywhere between once a month and once a year depending on the frequency of use. Homeowners must also provide them with annual inspections. Most boilers also require annual inspections, but they do not have filters that need to be changed.
Initial Investment Cost
Boiler systems tend to be more expensive than furnaces both in terms of initial investment and monthly bills. This factor goes a long way toward encouraging homeowners to purchase furnaces instead of boilers, although those who do opt for boilers often find that the more consistent and comfortable heat they provide is worth the extra money.
The Take-Away
Though furnaces cost less than boilers, a budget should not be a buyer’s only concern. The question of which type of Heating Units in Toledo OH will work best for a particular application is largely a matter of preference. Ultimately, whether homeowners purchase boilers or furnaces to heat their home, the most important thing to consider is proper installation and maintenance.
Find a Qualified Contractor Today
Looking for a reliable source of home heating and still have some questions about whether to go with a boiler or a furnace? Browse our website for more information about one local company that can offer installation services for either type of heating unit and can answer any questions homeowners might have prior to installation today.
