Interested in economically heating your home while simultaneously reducing your monthly heating bills? You may want to look into a high-efficiency boiler. Boilers receive a rating by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio, which determines whether a boiler is standard-efficient or high-efficient. Standard boilers typically have ratings between 80-84%, while high-efficiency boilers rate at 90% or above.
High-efficiency boilers typically either use a stainless steel or aluminum heat exchanger and are direct-vented with an intake and an exhaust to the exterior of the home. Unlike a traditional gas boiler, high-efficiency boilers work through a process called “condensing,” which traps heat and directs it back into your home. This enables your home to have more heat with less energy. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates utilizing a new, high-efficiency boiler can cut your bills by up to 50%.
What Are Some Common Misconceptions About High-Efficiency Boilers?
While high-efficiency boilers are environmentally and financially friendly, a few common misconceptions deter homeowners from installing one. Let’s debunk a few:
They require a lot of maintenance
Both standard efficiency and high-efficiency boilers require maintenance. In order to keep your boiler running efficiently for a long time, it’s important to have your boiler serviced once a year. While the maintenance checklists for high-efficiency boilers may differ from that of a traditional one, there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free boiler.
They’re expensive
Like most high-efficient items, high-efficiency boilers can cost more up-front. However, high-efficiency boilers typically qualify for a state rebate, which can make the cost very similar or even less expensive than standard efficiency models. It’s also important to keep in mind that they offer a greater overall return on your investment. With proper maintenance, high-efficiency boilers typically last 20-25 years, with you saving on fuel costs each year of operation.
They are more likely to have service problems
High-efficiency boilers are very reliable and have a great warranty to back them up. Some people have the misconception that they are less reliable because they have heard horror stories about improperly working units. Most of these stories come from people who had a lower-quality unit installed by a contractor who was not experienced with high-efficiency products. Like anything, installing high-efficiency boilers requires the right training and knowledge. If installed properly, high-efficiency boilers are just as reliable as a standard efficiency model. That is why it is very important to pick a company that has a lot of experience and training with high-efficiency models, like Priority One.
How Priority One Can Help
At Priority One, our team of technicians has years of experience installing, maintaining, and servicing high-efficiency boilers. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact us here or at (508) 272-7880.