Many people refer to boilers and furnaces interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Both work to heat your home, but the main difference is that a boiler uses hot water to heat a given space, while a furnace (also called a forced-air heating system) heats the air directly.
A boiler is a hydronic heating system that works by heating water and then sending hot water or steam through a network of pipes in order to heat your household via radiators, baseboards, or in-floor radiant systems. After this, the water then flows back to the boiler where it is heated up again and recirculated through the heating system.
Hot water boilers are often preferred to furnaces because they distribute the heat evenly throughout your home at a consistent temperature, so you have more control over the temperature of your home.
Eventually, even with proper maintenance and regular repairs, you will need a new boiler. Here are a few ways to tell if it’s time for a new boiler installation and some information on boiler options.
Signs that it might be time for a new boiler:
It is important to have your new boiler installed by a professional to ensure that it is done properly. An improperly installed boiler poses a safety hazard, so make sure to hire a certified technician who you trust to get the job done right.
We will remove, haul away, and dispose of your old boiler system for you and expertly install a new one in its place, so you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Interested in boiler repair and installation?
Conventional boilers, also called atmospheric vent boilers, are a common type of household boiler. In a conventional boiler system, cold water is stored inside a cylinder and then it is heated up and moved into a tank for storage. When you turn on the thermostat in your home, the hot water pumps through the hydronic system and warms your whole home.
Conventional boilers have a large water storage tank, which means these types of boilers have the capacity to consistently and thoroughly heat a larger space.
A combination, or combi boiler, is a hybrid between a water heater and a boiler. Combi boilers don’t use a storage tank the way conventional boilers do. Instead, combi boilers draw water directly from your home’s water main. Then, the water is heated and sent both to your home’s heating systems and faucets around the house as needed.
Combi boilers work by heating water on demand instead of storing hot water in a tank, which means that you get unlimited hot water with this type of boiler. Because they do not include a storage tank, combi boilers do not take up nearly as much space as conventional or system boilers. This means that combi boilers are a great choice for those who live in particularly small spaces.
The price of a new boiler is dependant on the specific make and model that you choose, but combi boilers are generally the most affordable type of boiler to purchase and install and they are also appealing because they are more energy efficient than other models. Because combi boilers draw water from your home’s main water line, your water pressure will drop if you have multiple people in your home using hot water from different sources at the same time. For this reason, some people with large households and bigger families my opt for a different type of boiler.
At John Sadler, our team of professional technicians has been serving the Lower Mainland for more than 40 years. You can count on us to help with your new boiler replacement, maintenance services, and all repairs.