High Efficiency Condensing Gas Boilers and Furnaces
If your furnace or boiler is over 10 years old, government guidelines and the entire heating industry, suggest it is probably time to replace it. Changes in technology have improved efficiency. Significant reductions of 15% or even muchmore, in fuel usage are typical. Newer models also dramatically cut pollution levels.
Our government leaders recognize the importance of getting rid of this old equipment. With the many incentive programs available, there has never been a better time to upgrade. With incentives your fuel saving will pay for the new unit in a matter of a few years. As fuel prices rise, payback time will shorten, and keeping your old unit will become quite expensive.
Natural gas or propane systems are ideal. Typical homeowners with oil heat find switching to gas makes financial sense. Not only is it more efficient, it burns clean, meaning annual cleaning/maintenance is no longer required. While there is additional expense to run gas lines, normally the savings quickly cover the cost.
The USA is behind many other nations that recognize condensing gas is a superior choice. The UK, Europe, and Netherlands have been refining this technology for years, and now some mandate its installation due to the fuel and environmental savings. The majority of products come to us from them.
The truth about efficiency ratings
AFUE ratings tell what percentage of your burning fuel the system turns into useable heat. With older equipment this is only a small part of the story. If the burner is dirty, you will not get the expected output. The heat that is left in the chamber when the system shuts down is lost up the flue. Additional heat is lost through the jacket. If your system has no damper heat is constantly drawn up the chimney. If your technician gave you an efficiency rating but did not use a combustion analyzer, it was only a “best guess” of how well it burns fuel. Heating professionals will tell you systems rated at 85% efficiency are often only turning 65-70% of the fuel into heat. Printable information.
High-efficiency heating equipment has solved most of these problems. These new boilers are small and wall hung. Since they do not require a chimney, they can be located anywhere. In new construction using no chimney results in great cost savings. High efficiency condensing gas boilers commonly have efficiency ratings above 95%. More information.
What makes this new type of heating equipment so much better
In new equipment the water or air makes multiple passes through the heat exchanger to gather and use all possible heat. In fact, the exhaust is so cool that it can be sent out via a PVC pipe. There is little heat left to be lost through the jacket and a damper protects the vent.
Proper installation is very important. Too often we have seen improper installations that cause efficiency to plummet. Often changes need to made to the existing piping.
Modulating - Many older units are either on or off. Running a boiler or furnace at full on is generally not cost effective or necessary to maintain the heat level. A modulating unit will constantly monitor the heat load. When maintaining temperature running at less that full output is cost efficient and creates tight temperature control. It also means a furnace will run quieter.
Condensing – The word "condensing"" is used since the boiler reduces the residual heat temperature so thoroughly that it cools to water vapor or condensation. This means a condensing boiler has transferred all the heat into useful energy.
PH levels – There has been concern about the PH level of the condensation water. All the products we install properly deal with the fact that the remaining water will have a possible PH level issues. Stainless steel and proper plastics are used to reduce corrosion. Some manufactures use buffering agents. Years of operational experience and product refinement along with training to insure proper installation techniques have addressed these problems.
Buderus condensing gas boiler
Prestige triangle tube boiler
Frigidaire modulating furnace 97+ AFUE rating