| For those who have a boiler in their home there | | | | points. One needs to look for reliability and digital |
| comes a time when the technology becomes | | | | technology, which ensures the system is running |
| outdated causing it to run inefficiently and | | | | smoothly and consistently. Many contain |
| increasing operating costs. Technology has | | | | computers that control the overall functioning of |
| changed much in the past 15 years and with | | | | the unit while controlling fuel consumption. A |
| ever-increasing fuel costs, one needs to take | | | | reasonable expectation would be for 0.75 gallons |
| advantage of every opportunity to ensure a boiler | | | | of fuel per hour would be used to heat a 2000 |
| replacement is made before an urgency arises. | | | | square foot house. |
| Older boilers are now found to emit pollutants | | | | Just as with any system in the home, boilers also |
| which are not only potentially harmful to residents, | | | | require periodic maintenance. This ensures the run |
| but can also negatively impact the environment. | | | | efficiently while ensuring long life. Many require a |
| Due to new governmental focus on improving | | | | thorough cleaning every couple of years when |
| these issues, many incentive programs now exist | | | | needed adjustments are made. It is best this be |
| including tax rebates and "cash for clunkers" | | | | done by a professional who has knowledge of |
| programs. For many it is incentive enough to | | | | boiler systems. Knowing that the heating and hot |
| know they are helping to reduce greenhouse | | | | water system will run optimally during times of |
| emissions, but for others the financial rewards | | | | needs provides peace-of-mind to homeowners |
| provide the motivation needed to make a | | | | who may be uncertain as to when their system |
| commitment. | | | | will fail. |
| Just as with the financial rewards through | | | | When a boiler goes on the blink there are many |
| incentive programs, increasing energy efficiency | | | | options available that need to be considered. It's |
| will also put money in one's pocket regularly. For | | | | always wise to get a second opinion, but beyond |
| those who have a boiler that is 15-20 years old, | | | | that one needs to decide whether the time has |
| even if working it is probably operating at a | | | | come to replace it with a similar unit, upgrade, or |
| maximum of 60% efficiency. This means that | | | | change it out for something entirely different. A |
| one must purchase an additional 200+ gallons of | | | | primary consideration should be current finances |
| fuel per year which is just wasted. | | | | and the long term ramifications of a change. |
| Boilers are often used to not only heat a home, | | | | When a system starts getting older, one should |
| but also provide hot water. Both work on the | | | | think about boiler replacement rather than repair. |
| same principal in that water is heated with a coil | | | | As technology advances, many benefits are |
| and circulated through a system. In these | | | | reaped could save not only future headaches, but |
| systems, hot water is then converted into forced | | | | money as well. Much will be based on |
| air by air handlers and pushed into baseboard units | | | | circumstances of the individual homeowner |
| set in walls and/or floors. The newer units are | | | | including financial situation, how old the system is, |
| amazingly efficient as well as cost effective. | | | | and whether or not the system is efficient. |
| Many new boilers on the market today offer a | | | | Ultimately, replacement will benefit the family as |
| wide variety styles, designs, sizes, and price | | | | well as the home's value. |