Boilers offer savings, higher comfort level

Dear Jim: We are building a large room addition. Our inefficient furnace probably should be replaced and we are considering a boiler system. Will there be any savings with a boiler? Is comfort much better? – Brenda H.

Dear Brenda: The answer is yes to both of your questions. A boiler system can provide the best comfort, especially when coupled with a warm floor radiant-heat system. There also will be substantial savings on your utility bills, due primarily to the more efficient operation of a new unit.

People often think of boilers as being used only in very cold climates, but with their better comfort and low noise, they are becoming more popular in mild climates too. There are several types of nonducted central air-conditioning systems available, so summertime cooling is not a problem.

Installing radiant floor heating in your new room addition will be simple during the construction phase along with ductless or high-velocity central air-conditioning. For the rest of your house, install a new furnace blower with a coil from the boiler in it for forced air heat like you currently have.

The basic boiler type options are natural gas, propane and oil-fired. The top-of-the-line gas models have the highest efficiencies and, at today’s utility rates, probably are less expensive to operate than oil-fired models. Your contractor can perform a computerized operating cost comparison.

Many new boilers use a sealed combustion design meaning the combustion air is drawn in from outdoors instead of from inside your home. This not only saves energy, but also reduces the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning and chilly indoor drafts. It also reduces combustion noise levels.

The newest gas boilers have gone high-tech, much like gas forced-air furnaces. These use condensing heat exchanger designs to squeeze out almost every last Btu of heat before the exhaust leaves the flue. The cool exhaust gases are vented outdoors through a plastic pipe, so no chimney is needed.

Some gas-fired designs use an evaporative recooling tower and heat recovery unit to preheat the incoming outdoor combustion air for extra savings. Another condensing design uses the pulse combustion principle where the fuel burns in rapid intense bursts instead of in a slow standing flame.

In areas with frequent outdoor temperature swings, consider a two-stage (low-high heat output) noncondensing gas boiler. In all but the very coldest weather, the burner operates in the lower output mode. A new boiler also can heat your domestic hot water more efficiently than a standard water heater and you will never run out of hot water for morning showers.

Write for (instantly download – www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 878 – buyer’s guide of 13 super-efficient gas and oil boiler manufacturers, listing efficiencies, sizes, venting methods, warranties, features and a savings-payback chart. Include $3 and a business-size SASE. Send to James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.