As natural gas and propane prices escalate, high-efficiency boilers for installation in new buildings or replacement in old ones are an obvious choice. Provided your system is appropriate for a condensing boiler, and most are, the savings made on fuel quickly pay back the cost of the boiler.

What's changed compared to my old boiler?

Boiler technology has developed remarkably in recent years just in time to help us counter those gas prices.
The most significant change is the introduction of condensation. When gas burns it produces lots of steam, carbon dioxide, and heat. A normal cast-iron boiler has to exhaust the steam and carbon dioxide through the flue at a high enough temperature to stop the steam condensing or else a highly corrosive fluid forms which quickly eats away the boiler. The big problem is that at least 20% of the energy in the gas goes out through the flue to heat the local neighborhood rather than the building.

Condensing boilers are built of materials specifically selected to resist the corrosion so the flue gases come out at a much lower temperature, the steam gives up its heat, and the condensed water is drained away. This ensures that up to 98% of the energy in the gas is used to heat the house.

A second major advance is the introduction of modulating boilers. The efficiency of a boiler is significantly higher if it runs for long periods rather than being turned on and off a lot. The old boilers used to be either full on or off and were inefficient particularly in cool to mild weather when not much heat was required. Modulating boilers can run at any level and are on much more continuously and are therefore much more efficient. This is particularly true of those with sophisticated 'burn' controls.

The best boilers these days are computer controlled to ensure the flame is burning cleanly and efficiently. They help to conserve gas and maintenance is minimal.

Viessmann is a German company which has put years of high tech research into developing boilers which are efficient and have very low maintenance. They cost a little more, but their low maintenance, efficiency, and longevity pays off handsomely. Check them out at www.Viessmann.com then contact us to find the best model for your needs. Remember, it may be worth changing out your old boiler even if you do nothing else.

If your boiler is over 25 years old it probably has 60-75% efficiency. Simple replacement of the boiler with one functioning at 90-95% efficiency is a 'no-brainer' economic decision. Pay back will probably be 5-7 years. If you are living in or managing any size of building which has hot water heating of any kind, contact us and let us discuss how you can start cutting those gas or propane bills.

Radiant floors are ideal candidates for condensing, modulating boilers. A well-planned and controlled radiant floor needs water that is heated to a temperature which is dependent on the outside temperature. It rarely needs water over about 130°F. These demands are perfectly suited to boiler modulation and the cool temperature means that condensation works very well. Give us a call and we can discuss how radiant heating with a Viessmann boiler will provide your family with comfort at a low running cost.