Boiler Replacement | Home Heating
System Upgrade
Overview:
If your
boiler is more than fifteen years old you may want to
consider a boiler replacement as a home heating system
upgrade.
With the increasing cost of fuel oil and gas you may be able
to save a lot of money and have a more reliable boiler.
There are government tax incentives available for installing
an energy efficient heating system and a credit “cash for junkers” program is in the making to help you out.
Replacing
a boiler that is operating on old technology can also
contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions.
In addition to the
federal government incentives for upgrading your heating
system there are many states that offer incentives for green
remodeling and improvement projects.
Increasing energy efficiency is the most important
consideration when considering a boiler replacement. New
boilers are high efficient boilers such as a System 2000
which runs at 86% efficiency and is
relatively maintenance free. That means that 86% of the fuel
entering the boilers combustion chamber is converted into
heat. Most 15- 20 year old boilers operate at roughly 60
percent efficiency, at best. This 21% difference adds up to
a lot of fuel cost savings for you in a year. Putting it in
dollars, if you are burning 800 gallons of fuel oil a year
to heat your home and provide domestic hot water, you can
save approximately 168 gallons of fuel oil a year. That
comes to about $504 a year if you are paying $3.00 a gallon
for your fuel oil.
For
residential heating systems, boilers essentially heat hot
water that is circulated to baseboard heating units or air
handlers that convert the hot water heat to forced hot air
heat. Many homes use a combination of both baseboard heating
units and air handlers for forced hot air for heating. In
addition, the boiler heats the domestic hot water by
circulating the hot water from the boiler to a heating coil
in a hot water tank to heat water. There are several very
efficient boilers available on the market. However, I am
partial to the System 2000 boiler because it is a very
reliable system that incorporates the latest in digital
technology control. It has a state of the art digital energy
manager (computer) that controls the unit. The boiler uses
less than 0.75 of a gallon of fuel oil per hour to heat a
2000 square foot home that is well insulated. The System
2000 comes in two different sizes depending upon your
heating needs. The boiler can also operate on natural or LP
gas.
Like all
heating systems a boiler requires periodic maintenance to
insure it is operating at peek proficiency and prolong its
life. A system 200 only requires cleaning every two years as
compared to other boilers that require cleaning every year.
Such periodic maintenance and adjustments should be
performed by a licensed boiler professional. A System 2000
boiler replacement or new installation cost approximately
$4,500. This may seem expensive but the pay back can take as
little as nine years in addition to giving you the assurance
that you will have a reliable heating system and is
certainly greener than any 15-20 year old boiler. If you’re
heating system is due for a boiler replacement, consult with
a heating professional to insure that you get the latest in
boiler technology and what the state and federal incentives
are for updating your heating system. Your home heating
system upgrade will save you money.
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