Gas Furnaces
Boiler Heaters
Gas Furnaces and Boiler Heaters Installations and Service for Southern New Hampshire
The most powerful central heating option for a building.
We break down the pros and cons of using a Gas Furnace versus a Boiler Heater System.
See what options are best for you with a new HVAC System, or schedule an appointment with our technicians today to have your old unit looked at; call Debbie 603-554-2559
What is the difference between a Gas Furnace and a Boiler Heater, and what option is best for you?
Gas Furnaces -
A gas furnace is a central home heating system that uses natural gas or propane as fuel to generate heat. A gas furnace heats air by burning the gas in a combustion chamber. It then transfers the heat by sending the air flowing over a heat exchanger. Lastly, it distributes the warmed air throughout a home using an extensive ductwork system.
Hot air is blown by a blower fan and sent through the ducts. It enters each room through a vent on the floor, ceiling, or side walls.
The newer gas furnaces are designed to be more energy efficient than past models. They include improved modifications to the heat exchanger design. They also come with new features like variable speed blowers.
Installing a gas furnace usually requires extensive ductwork. If you already have the ductwork in your building, using a new gas furnace often makes economic sense because you have the ducts in place. Running new ductwork can be costly to put into a pre-existing building.
There is the risk of carbon monoxide due to the fact that you are burning gas to create the heat. This act of combustion needs proper ventilation and regular maintenance checks to ensure that it is functioning correctly and to reduce the risk.
Some people with allergies can be bothered by the forced hot air that comes through the ductwork. To improve the quality of indoor air, it is crucial to have the ducts cleaned out regularly. You can also install a humidifier that hydrates the air within the ducts.
With the proper humidification of the air, it improves many allergies. At Skywalker HVAC, we can help with humidifiers too!
Gas Furnace diagram
Boiler Heaters -
A Boiler Heater acts as the central heating source by transferring heat through a liquid medium, typically water, unlike a furnace, which heats air directly. A boiler heater is most commonly fueled by gas (natural or propane), oil, or electricity. The heated water is distributed through radiators, baseboards, or radiant floor systems to warm a space.
The hot water is circulated through pipes to transfer heat to the surrounding environment. This is called "Hydronic heating". Once the hot water passes through the pipe system, it returns to the boiler to be reheated. This continuous cycle provides even heat through all areas in which the pipes travel.
New Boiler Heater System
A Boiler Heater requires a pipe system that goes to radiators or baseboards. It can also be put under flooring as radiant heat. If you already have baseboards with water pipes or old radiators, it can be very cost-effective to install a new Boiler Heater because you already have the infrastructure in place.
In new construction, you can design a very efficient boiler heating system, but if you are not designing for it or don't already have the hot water pipes run, you must consider the best option. Remodels need heat calculations and a detailed understanding of the building to know what heat system is best for budget and air quality.
Boiler Heaters offer some of the best central heating options because some people find radiant heat from a boiler system more comfortable than forced air from a furnace due to the more even heat distribution.
Boiler Heaters are also a little more efficient than Gas Furnaces due to water's better heat retention than air. Using water to transfer the heat can be better for people with allergies as well. The heat from a hot pipe is less drying and can provide a bit more humidity in the dry, cold New Hampshire and Massachusetts winters.
In the coldest temperatures, a Boiler Heater usually slightly outperforms a Gas Furnace because the Boiler Heater is more consistent in keeping an overall building temperature. It is also very easy to create zones with independent temperature settings.
Please get in touch with us today, and we will do the free heat calculations to determine the best heating solution for your space and budget.
“You won’t find anyone better than Ryan and Tom for your HVAC needs. Contrary to other contractors we spoke with, they went above and beyond to think of HVAC solutions that fit our personal house and needs.”