High efficiency boilers have been becoming more and more popular in the recent years. The talks of fuel and space savings have caught the attention of homeowners everywhere. High efficiency boilers are incredible pieces of equipment. The advantages and benefits that come with installing one in your home are great. Lets talk about why I am such a firm believer that these boilers should replace the old steel or cast iron boat anchor that currently heats your home.
- The main reason. The potential for fuel savings. By converting from a standard cast iron boiler to a high efficiency boiler, you are saving stress on your wallet. A typical cast iron boiler will run on average 80-85% efficient based on its age. On average, high efficiency boilers will get up to 95% efficient and sometimes even higher! Of course, these ratings are contingent upon various factors but they are very achievable and realistic. We will dive more into that on another post.
- Who doesn’t want more space in their home? A typical cast iron boiler is large and takes up a lot of space. A high efficiency boiler usually hangs neatly on the wall. The piping and components get installed neatly freeing up valuable floor space. They are so small that we often find them installed in a small closet.
- Not only do they save space, but they are quite. Often, they produce less noise than a modern refrigerator. On many occasions after finishing an installation I have had the homeowner stand in front of the unit and ask me what it sounds like when it turns on, only to realize that it has been on the entire time. No more waking up in the middle of the night when that loud burner kicks on and rumbles the house.
- Increased comfort. Most manufactures will sell their boilers with an “outdoor reset control”. What this device does is tell the boiler how cold it is outside. With this valuable information, the boiler will know exactly how much heat the home needs to stay comfortable. (Of course there is a little bit of back-end work from your contractor to get all the information correct). When done correctly, this will reduce temperature swings inside the home and promote nice long even burner run times which will in turn increase your systems efficiency.
- Wi-Fi. Now don’t get scared, your new boiler may come with an optional “APP” to be installed by you and your contractor. Get your boiler connected to the Wi-Fi and get updates on performance, maintenance schedules, and even error codes. My company Emerald City Plumbing and Heating based out of Suffolk County New York installs a certain brand of boiler that allows us to remotely monitor our customers’ heating equipment from anywhere in the world (as long as there’s service). We can adjust temperatures if needed, monitor fuel usage, and get notified of any errors. The best part, we offer this service to our customers for free!
I hope that if you find yourself thinking of replacing your homes heating boiler that you consider going with this great technology. Of course, with so many different manufactures it may be hard to know what the best brand is to go with. My advice is always to interview different contractors and make your decision based on what contractor you believe will best take care of you and your home even after the installation is complete. If you are located on Long Island New York in Suffolk County and have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 631-255-0287.