Is It Time for a Boiler Upgrade? Questions to Ask and Answer

How do you know it’s time for a boiler upgrade? Perhaps the most important reason to consider replacing an old boiler is it’s in frequent need of repairs. If your boiler has been proving unreliable, then consider installing a new one. While replacing a boiler represents a substantial financial investment, there are many ways it can pay off, so read on for more information about a boiler upgrade.

What are the Benefits of an Upgrade?

If your boiler is more than 15 years old, it’s probably not the most efficient device. When it was new, it may have had an AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 80 percent, but after wear and tear, it’s probably around 70 percent. New boilers may have an AFUE of more than 90 percent. This means that with a new boiler, you might cut your fuel bills by 25 percent. What’s more, most boilers are not sized properly, resulting in operational inefficiencies, such as short cycling. Upgrading your boiler will give you the chance to get the boiler size right for your home.

Which Type to Choose?

Generally, it makes sense to replace a boiler with one that burns the same kind of fuel as your previous one. If your house has a natural gas line, you’ll likely want to continue with gas as it’s plentiful and relatively inexpensive compared to oil. If you aren’t connected to a natural gas supply, then you can choose between oil or propane (both require storage tanks) or pellet-burning boilers.

How to Boost Efficiency

Since our Wilmington winters are cold, you might consider super-efficient condensing boilers. With less fuel required and a more efficient burning process, condensing boilers extract heat from condensation gases, or heat that would otherwise be exhausted into the atmosphere. Beyond the savings discussed above, a boiler upgrade will also exhaust less greenhouse gas into the environment. Furthermore, a newer boiler will increase your home’s resale value.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues – especially HVAC and plumbing issues – so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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