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Hot Take: 5 Things a Boiler Can Do That a Furnace Can’t


Keeping a home comfortable and temperature-controlled year-round is important. A home should be a place residents feel welcome, and setting an inviting atmosphere requires some regulation. When winter comes with extreme weather, picking a heating system that can keep pace is essential.

When temperatures drop, homeowners deserve to know that their residence will remain warm. That’s where a boiler installation could make all the difference.

The term boiler is often used interchangeably with the term furnace. However, the two heating systems are drastically different.

Boilers and furnaces are both common in homes and businesses across the nation. That said, they function using different techniques, and each has its advantages and drawbacks.

Whether you go with a boiler installation or a furnace, it’s essential to understand the differences. The following are five things a boiler can do that a furnace can’t. All could help you make an informed and effective decision about which heating system will work better for you.

  • Heat Water (Not Air)

When homeowners opt for a boiler installation, they select a heating system that utilizes water instead of air. A boiler is a large, closed container that can efficiently heat water and run steam or vapor through a network of heating pipes in the home.

Boilers are typically part of a larger radiator system, otherwise known as a hydronic heating system. Warm water, vapor, or steam travels to radiators and vents where you need heat. Contractors can customize the system according to your heating needs.

Alternatively, those who don’t choose a boiler installation will typically opt for a furnace installation. Unlike a boiler, a furnace heats air and pushes it throughout the home’s ductwork to control heating options.

  • Reduce Allergens in the Air

A boiler installation is often an excellent choice for homeowners with allergies. Because boilers use heated water to warm up a home, the potential for allergens and other dust particles to be blown through ductwork and throughout the interior is gone.

This approach to heating can also reduce the potential for mold buildup over time. In fact, many homeowners credit a boiler installation for improved air quality in their property, which is a particularly important detail for families with small children and elders in the living space.

  • Function Without a Heat Exchanger

At their most basic, boilers need only to produce steam or vapor to heat a residence effectively. As long as hot water is moving through the pipe system, rooms in a home will experience an increase in temperature.

That makes a boiler installation very different from a furnace. Homes with a furnace heating system depend on a fully functioning heat exchange to enjoy effective heating options.

A furnace requires cool or room-temperature air to move through an exchange unit to be heated. Once that has happened, it can be moved through ductwork for distribution throughout the home.

  • Heat Your Home Without the Noise

Both boilers and furnaces come in energy-efficient designs. However, a boiler is undoubtedly less noisy to have in a home.

Unlike furnaces, boilers don’t require a motor to push hot air through a home’s ductwork. Compared to their counterparts, boilers offer a much gentler and quieter home heating experience for residents within.

  • Function Efficiently on Less Fuel

When it comes to energy efficiency, boilers typically produce a significant amount of heat while using less fuel than a standard furnace. For homeowners looking to cut monthly energy costs, this can be a huge benefit to their bank account.

It can also be a selling point for homeowners who might be considering putting their property on the market down the road. Many prospective buyers are looking for efficient and well-designed properties to save money and receive a good ROI starting on day one.

A boiler’s ability to function efficiently on less fuel also means more heating consistency. Homeowners often find that hot water heating is more dependable than what’s provided by a forced-air system.

 Contact Paul the Plumber Today

There’s no reason to wait when you’re ready to heat your home efficiently and effectively. Our qualified and caring team is only a phone call away and can help with everything from boiler installation and maintenance to repair when needed.

We pair impeccable customer service with quality craftsmanship and work around your schedule to make boiler installation as easy as possible. Our team can’t wait to hear from you soon! Reach out to learn more about our many services or to schedule your next appointment.

 

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S. DesMarais

Josh was amazing. He was able to install my ring doorbells with no issues. He also did a great check of my homes smoke detectors and a few electrical plugs. He was thorough, Knowledgeable, and easy to work with. I would definitely use them again.

T. Minasian

These are the after photos of the Rinnai tankless water heater installation and vent to the outside. It was important to me that the crew was able to use the existing vent hole to the outside to run both the intake vent pipe and the outside vent pipe. It made the job very clean and did not change the appearance of the outside wall. A shout out to Mike E, Caleb, Josh & Corey

D. Lefort

Arrived as scheduled to fix a leak from the shower valve. Tried to fix old 30 or 40 year old unit but had to replace with a new one. Quality work, parts and cleaned up when they were done. Would definitely use again.

J. Shea

John was wonderful. He found the problem right away and fixed it. He checked other outlets just to make sure I would be safe. He explained different programs the company offers also. I’m very happy.

M. Richdale

Thanks to Mike Vallee from Paul the Plumber for responding to this new customer’s call so quickly. He was courteous, thorough, explained the repair he was doing and left the work area spotless. I highly recommend Paul the Plumber (and Mike!) to anyone looking for a reliable plumbing company.

J. Wojo

DJ from PTP was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. My shower was not draining and it became a bigger project than I thought it would and they came out quickly and were able to fix my problem. Then when my water heater had a slow leak they came back out quickly to attend to it and fix my problem. I really appreciate their hard work. Thank you so much!! Would definitely recommend them.

Nick Boudreux

Had a well pump that was shorting out and pretty much had no water. Adrian from this company not only got out next day but was great to work with. He was very friendly and knowledgeable I would definitely recommend this company to anyone that needs work done! Thanks again guys!

D. Weaver

What a fantastic business. Helped us work with our water district in resolving meter replacement issues. They also fixed a pipe leak that had developed over time. Caleb was wonderful and answered our questions as well as working with the water district engineer on the meter issues. So easy to work with.

D. Marchand

I cannot say enough about this company!!! Their only concern is that you are up and running again with no worries. I’ve had Kyle the plumber, and Josh their electrician out here and both are polite, well trained and you can tell they truly care about getting you back in service. Great service, well trained caring staff! I will never go anywhere else!

Michele

I’ve used Paul the Plumber twice now for electrical issues and they have been wonderful each time. They are fast, polite, knowledgeable, and very fairly priced. They explain everything well and answer my questions thoroughly and I feel safer now knowing what was causing my electrical issues and having it fixed! I will be using Paul the Plumber for all my household needs going forward

S. Baraket

Never used Paul The plumber company before but I’m glad I did. Very courteous, professional and pleasant from the answering service (Diane) to employees (Jeremy). They diagnosed the problem and fixed it in no time. Very happy and satisfied with their service. Definitely will use again. Thank you

W. Chepren

I made an appointment on line the morning of July 31 and two trucks showed up at 1:00 pm right on time that same afternoon. Both guys were friendly and very knowledgeable. They quickly found the source of the wet patch on my ceiling which wasn’t the plumbing but a problem with the shower curtain. This is the second time I have called Paul. Both times I got outstanding service and will always call on Paul the Plumber for any plumbing problems in the future. Very reasonable cost for the visit.

K. MacCallum

First time customer, and am very pleased with the whole experience. The highlight was definitely with the technicians assigned to the job and their work – Tyree and Corey were clean, polite, well-informed, and very helpful with some of the questions I had along the way. Their work appears to be top-notch, and they made sure no mess was left behind. Will definitely be calling and requesting these two again on any future needs.

H. MacPherson

I would recommend Paul the Plumber 100%. They offered same/next day service. They were friendly, professional and quick – from the office staff to the technicians. Overall an amazing experience from start to finish.

K. Bernardo

We’re first time home owners and needed help with some plumbing and adding a filter system. They were able to get a technician scheduled to our house within a day or so of me contacting them. Mike was super helpful and was able to complete all the jobs in a timely manner, and also cleaned up the areas he was working in. Overall a great experience and would definitely use them for future jobs.

V. Vincze

We had an issue with our water…too hard, calcium deposits, and very little pressure in our master bathroom shower only. The techs (Mike E. & Tyler S.) arrived right on time. They were friendly and very personable. After installing our whole house filtration system and successfully finding the issue with our master bathroom, they left the work areas in pristine condition. They were meticulous in their work, and I highly recommend them for any plumbing needs!

Serving southern NH, Seacoast, and greater Concord area

Paul The Plumber is proud to say that we’ve been providing high-quality service in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical for more than 22 years in Derry, NH, and the southern New Hampshire area.

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Litchfield, NH

Windham, NH

Hudson,NH

Manchester,NH

Sandown, NH