It is a thought that has been in the back of your mind probably for years…..”Should I replace my heating system?”.  Winter is here, and for many Long Islanders, their boiler is quietly (or maybe not so quietly) chugging along providing our homes with heat.  Like many of us, we hear the baseboard crackle and pop as it heats up and that 180 degree water flows through the pipes, and that’s all we need to know.  The heat works and we are happy.  But is it working as best as it really should be?  Maybe it has been a while since a heating contractor has done a tune-up and cleaned it out, or maybe age is slowly catching up to it making it less efficient every year.  Either way, this could be costing you money either in emergency repairs or in your fuel bills.

So you are here and you are asking yourself, “Is it time to replace my boiler?”…You’ve probably been saying it for years, just hoping it lasts one more winter.  I’ve said the same about the boiler in my own house.  It is understandable, the hesitation in wanting to replace such an expensive piece of equipment.  With so many options in equipment and brands, fuel sources, and hot water production, it can seam a little daunting.  But it doesn’t have to be.  That is why is it so important to hire qualified plumbing and heating contractors and to get multiple quotes before spending any money.  Think of this as an investment.  A new heating system will save you money, it wont cost you.  When hiring a reputable contractor, your new equipment will be registered for the manufactures warranties, and most contractors will offer a warranty as well.  So the piece of mind is there.  This doesn’t have to be a stressful process when you hire the right people.

When a customer calls us to get an estimate on a replacement, I go through a couple of steps before presenting any options.   Step1)..First, I start with how much heat does your home need for you to be comfortable on the coldest day of the year.  After doing a quick inspection of the home and doing some measurements, I can determine what size boiler you will need.  This is the most important step.  Too big of a boiler and you will spend more in fuel, and too small of a boiler and it will have a hard time keeping up on those cold nights…Step2)  We talk about hot water production.  Are you currently happy with the way your home makes hot water, or will this be the time to make some changes to your system.  This is an important conversation to have because this may effect the size of the boiler as well, or what type of boiler….Step3) The last step is to design a system that will fit your home and your budget.  We don’t always need to break the bank, or completely change your house to fit a new system.  A common misconception is that the only way to save money on fuel, is to switch to a high efficiency gas boiler.  This is simply not true.  There are great oil fired boilers and piping designs out there that can save you money each and every year.  It is not always necessary to go through the trouble of an oil to gas conversion.  However, if switching to gas is something that you are interested in, we are here to make that a stress free experience for you.

Bottom line is that a new boiler is an investment for your home and your health.  You deserve a safe and healthy heating system.  If you would like any more information or have any questions, please feel free to call today! 631-255-0287