Many homeowners may confuse the terms ‘heater’ and ‘boiler’ but when it comes down to it, the differentiation is quite simple. A boiler uses hot water (think of “boiling” water) to heat your home. Alternatively, a furnace uses hot air to heat your home, also reffered to as ‘forced air’.
How does a boiler work?
In a ‘Hot Water’ based boiler unit, a hydronic system utilizes flowing hot water to heat your home. In this form of hot water system, the boiler begins by heating the water to approximately 180 degrees. Then the hot water is moved via a circulator through pipes that lead to your baseboard heater, radiator or radiator tubing. In a steam system, the boiler turns the water into steam, which then rises through a system of pipes to your unit’s radiator(s). Unlike a furnace, boilers are silent while they are producing heat. If you have a boiler that is making a bubbling or gurgling noise, it means that something in your boiler is broken. Boilers do not blow air as furnaces do, so therefore spread less allergens around your home. Boilers can also be controlled by differentiated zones, giving you more direct control as to which sections of your home are being heated.
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How does a furnace work?
A warm air system uses a furnace to deliver the heat throughout your home. The air is heated in the furnace and is then forced into a duct system via a blower. The warm air is then released into your home, through vents or registers in your walls, ceilings and floors. Furnaces do not use convectors to produce heat making them slightly less expensive when compared to boilers. Furnaces also provide a way to cool your home while a boiler does not. Purchasing a furnace for your home will cost less than purchasing a boiler; however, boilers are generally considered more efficient at heating your home.
