Warm to the Touch
Boilers heat water, and provide either hot water or steam for heating. The hot water can be distributed via baseboards, radiators, or radiant floor systems. It is important that the boiler match the heat distribution system in your home for maximum efficiency, energy savings, and comfort. The professionals at Cliff Bergin & Associates can help determine the best choices for your heating system, including additional features such as an indirect water heater for abundant domestic hot water or energy saving devices like outdoor reset controls to save on your fuel bills. At Cliff Bergin, our service and installation technicians are well versed and highly knowledgeable about these systems, from the traditional boilers we still repair in older homes to the in-floor radiant heat that we install in new and renovated houses.
Boilers Offer Many Benefits, Including Better Comfort
People choose boilers and in-floor radiant heat because they are quiet, affordable, and easy on the environment. In addition, they’re beneficial for allergy sufferers. But for most homeowners, it’s the tangible warmth that is so appealing—particularly warm wood or tile floors.
Radiant heat warms things, not just the air. With a furnace, you’ll feel warm air but it moves quickly, leaving objects in the room feeling cold. With radiant heat rising slowly from the ground up, things in the room are able to retain warmth and maintain a steady temperature. More importantly, the floor and furniture are warm to the touch, and that makes any home more comfortable and inviting.
Two Ways to Heat Water
Hydronic heat begins with a boiler, so at Cliff Bergin, we begin by explaining your options:
- A traditional boiler has a cast iron heat exchanger that transfers heat at approximately 80 percent efficiency. A pump circulates the hot water to radiators or in-floor lines, where it is released to warm your rooms. In most cases, these boilers vent through the chimney.
- A condensing boiler includes a more efficient steel heat exchanger that recovers heat energy from exhaust to warm the returning cold water. This process produces moisture, which needs proper draining and precautions against freezing in winter.
Other Considerations for Homes With Boilers
A boiler has fewer component parts, however, it still needs to be serviced annually by an expert who is familiar with its unique features. Trust the technicians from Cliff Bergin to make sure your boiler is venting properly, clean out any sediment, and check for lime buildup, signs of deterioration, or leaks.
Boilers are a great option for heating, but they can’t provide cool air in summer. For this, Cliff Bergin can recommend air conditioning options—with or without ductwork—to help you stay comfortable year-round.
While the initial cost of hydronic heat can be a bit higher than a traditional furnace, a radiant system has many benefits, and our customers tell us there’s no comparison when it comes to comfort—“warm to the touch” wins every time!
