Is it Time for a Boiler Replacement or Furnace Replacement?

Getting boiler maintenance or furnace maintenance done on a regular basis goes a long way toward extending the life of your oilheating system. If you think it’s time for a new furnace or new boiler installation, please contact your oilheating company about your options. You may be surprised at all the advances made in oilheat equipment since you last replaced your heating system.

Today’s oil boilers and furnaces offer homeowners a great opportunity to increase their comfort while decreasing their energy usage. New systems now heat your home using significantly less energy compared to older generation equipment. Energy-efficient equipment can be installed with controls to use only as much fuel as needed to heat your home or a specific part of your home.

Do You Have a Boiler or a Furnace?

While most people generally call their oilheating system a furnace, that’s a totally different system from a boiler. Both types of systems will keep you warm, but there are some tips you should know. But first you have to understand which type of heating system you have in your home.

What is a Furnace?

A furnace refers to the heating unit in a warm-air, or forced-air, system. After air is heated in the furnace, a blower forces it through ducts. The warm air is then released through vents or registers in your home.

What is a Boiler?

If you have a hot water (hydronic) system, water circulates around your boiler’s combustion chamber. A circulator pumps the hot water through pipes to heat baseboards or radiators. Eventually, the water returns to the unit to begin the cycle again. If you have a steam system, the boiler turns the water into steam, which then rises through pipes to radiators.

Hot Tips for Furnaces

• All warm-air systems have air filters to screen out dust and other impurities. In general, you should check the filter’s condition about once a month during the heating season and change or clean it when necessary. Contact your oilheating company if you’re not familiar with this procedure.
• If you have a whole-house air cleaner connected to your furnace, get the most out of it by keeping the thermostat setting to “on” instead of “auto.” This provides continuous circulation and filtration of indoor air and helps maintain a balanced temperature throughout your home.

Hot tips for Boilers

• If you’re not getting heat from a baseboard, check to see if the damper is open. Make sure the bottom of the unit isn’t blocked by heavy carpeting.
• For steam systems, check the boiler’s water gauge periodically. Low water levels are a leading cause for shutdowns. Steam boilers should also be flushed when the water in the gauge looks rusty. Contact your heating oil company if you’re not familiar with this procedure.
• A radiator valve has only two positions, on and off. Keeping the valve’s handle in between does not regulate the temperature but can strain the pipes and produce a hammering sound.

Important Tips for All Heating Systems

• Keep the area around your system as clean and clutter-free as possible. Never store anything flammable near your system.
• Keep registers, baseboards or radiators clean and unobstructed to ensure maximum air flow.

Contact Your South Carolina Oilheat Company

If you want to take advantage of today’s energy-efficient oilheating systems, your local oilheating company can work with you to design a new heating system that fits your South Carolina home and your budget. Contact your local oilheating company to get an estimate on the cost to replace your boiler or furnace.