Choosing the right heating system for your Belgrade, Montana home is important. After all, not only is this equipment essential for keeping your living environment warm and habitable during winter, but it can also play a hand in determining your indoor air quality and your level of indoor humidity. With boilers and furnaces being two of the top choices for residential heating, following are a few ways to know which option is right for you.
The Benefits of Boilers
Boilers are recognized as providing incredibly comfortable heating. While furnaces produce hot air to raise indoor temperatures, boilers use hot water or the steam from hot water to accomplish the same. As such, they aren’t known for drying the indoor air out, and they’re often preferred by people who are prone to nasal congestion, nighttime nosebleeds, or dry skin, lips, and eyes.
Boilers can be fueled by:
- Wood pellets
- Natural gas
- Heating oil
- Electricity
If you choose to use a hydronic heating system or boiler for your home, you’ll have lots of flexibility in terms of how you power it.
Another benefit of boilers is that they don’t require HVAC ductwork. These units provide radiant heat. Each room or service area has its own radiator that emits a steady, constant stream of warmth when the boiler is turned on.
The Benefits of Furnaces
Furnaces are forced-air heating systems. These units combust or burn fuel to generate heat and then push the resulting warm air through HVAC ductwork. Forced-air heating systems can be powered by:
- Propane
- Natural gas
- Heating oil
- Electricity
As such, there’s an equally diverse range of fuel options available for homeowners who opt for furnaces rather than boilers.
Although furnaces don’t provide radiant heat and are therefore likely to introduce dirt, dust, and other airborne particulates into the living environment via their ducting, they can have powerful air filtration features. You can upgrade the standard air filter in your furnace to one that’s rated to pick up a number of common and micro-fine airborne contaminants. Ducted heating systems can also have a variety of integrated HVAC accessories put in such as media filters, air purifiers, air scrubbers, and dehumidifiers.
Which Heating System Will Work Best in Your Home
Given that both systems burn fuel, both require homeowners to have mitigation strategies in place for limiting the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure. These include adequate venting systems, regular vent maintenance, and indoor CO alarms. However, it’s important to note that furnaces require a bit more maintenance than boilers do. While both equipment types should receive annual maintenance service, furnaces should have their air filters changed every one to three months. Moreover, the ductwork that supports furnaces should also be professionally cleaned every three to five years.
At PJ's Plumbing & Heating, we’re committed to helping residents of Belgrade, Montana make informed decisions about their home heating equipment. We provide HVAC installation, maintenance, and repairs. We also offer plumbing, boiler, and water heater service. If you need help choosing the right heater for your home, give us a call today!
