Unless you work in the HVAC industry, you likely won’t have an extensive knowledge of all of the heating systems available, which can make upgrading or replacing your system seem daunting. In most cases, homeowners choose to go with a boiler or a furnace, but ultimately, the decision comes down to your home comfort needs and what system your home can accommodate.

Furnace
When the time comes for homeowners to choose a boiler or a furnace as their new heating system, many will instinctively choose a furnace, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the better option. Furnaces can run on natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity, and most households are set up with at least one of those fuel sources. The heat exchanger inside the furnace transfers heat to the air and then distributes it throughout your home, which means your home should have pre-existing ductwork, or you’ll need to do some extensive renovations to install some. There are multiple types of furnaces, and some are more efficient than others, but a standard furnace can adequately heat the average two-story home without any trouble. If your home has the existing architecture necessary for a furnace they’re a great option, but they’re one-dimensional in terms of their function, which is why some homeowners opt to use a boiler.

Boiler
Boilers, also known as hydronic heating systems, are unlike furnaces because they heat your home through by moving warm or hot water through pipes. They can use natural gas, propane, oil, or wood to heat a liquid, either water or glycol, which is then pumped to heating devices like radiators, and indoor heating loops. When homeowners are deciding between a boiler or a furnace, they often choose to go with a boiler if they have the option because they can do so much more than simply heat your home. Boilers can provide heat for several home comfort and convenience systems including:

• Radiant Heating: Boilers supply radiators and baseboard heaters with hot water so that they can efficiently heat your home.
• Heated Floors: You can install special tubing underneath your floors, which allows hot water from your boiler to heat your floors and the living spaces above them.
• Heated Driveways: Using the same principle as the heated floors inside your home, you can heat tubing under your driveway to make shovelling and salting a thing of the past.
• Luxury Features: Boilers can be used to supply many other home comfort features with heat including pool and hot tub heaters, towel warmers, and more.

Whether you’re in the market for a boiler or a furnace, Delta has the system for you!

Delta has been proudly serving the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph regions’ HVAC needs since the 1950s. Our team of licensed technicians strives to provide our clients with reliable service and cost-effective solutions.

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