What You Should Know Before You Buy a High Efficiency Boiler

Boilers that are rated above 90% are called condensing boilers. They are designed to extract heat from the combustion gases that's normally lost in the exhaust lower rated boilers.
This energy saving process will only occur under certain conditions.

Condensing boilers rely on lower water temperatures of 135 degrees F and lower to gain higher efficiencies.

I've seen high efficient rated condensing boilers that were operating at efficiencies in the mid 80% range because the water temperatures were too high to allow the boiler to condense and release the extra heat into the heating system.

The best way to ensure low water temperatures are to use a control system also adjusts the water temperature according to the outdoor temperature as well as the indoor temperature.

These systems are called weather responsive controls or outdoor reset controls.

Not only can it save 15% - 20% on your energy bill but also increases comfort. It provides a constant, steady flow of heat throughout the house.

Some boilers are equipped with this control and some are sold as an option.

Stay clear of those who try to sell a condensing boiler without this control strategy if you want to reap the benefits of a high efficiency boiler.

Another thing you should consider is the material the heat exchanger is made from.

For a long-lasting boiler choose one with a stainless steel heat exchanger rather than aluminum.
One boiler manufacturer stopped making boilers with aluminum heat exchangers because of their concern of longevity.

Follow these tips and you'll get the return on investment you are looking for.

Ed Bishop brings over thirty years of experience to the art of designing and installing engineered living environments for homeowners and offers the widest array of solutions to improve the safety, comfort, quality and efficiency of new and existing homes.

Please visit www.heating-and-air-conditioning-guide.com

By E Bishop