Choosing the best method for heating the household is essential in my local area. My fantastic friend and I rely on the boiler for the majority of the year. It needs to handle temperatures down to twenty-below zero and provide effective and energy efficient comfort. Before choosing the type of equipment for our new construction build, my hubby and I looked into different possibilities and considered the pros and cons. Our debate came down to either a furnace or a boiler. A boiler uses sizzling water to heat the household while a furnace uses sizzling air. While either one can operate on natural gas, oil or electricity, a furnace heats up air and sends it through a duct system by way of a blower. The boiler requires a pump to send the water to any combination of radiators, baseboard heating systems and/or radiant flooring systems. By eliminating the blower, radiant heating is constantly more gentle and comfortable. Boilers operate silently and due to legitimately few moving parts, require little to no service. The air filters in the boilers should be replaced every month and annual upkeep from a professional is necessary. A furnace costs less to install and eliminates the opportunity of chilly during a winter time power outage. However, ductwork spreads dust, dander and other allergens into the breathing air and can sacrifice up to 30% of heated air to leaks. Hydronic heating doesn’t dry out the air, doesn’t need ductwork and provides better air quality. This type of heating is more consistent in floor to ceiling temperature and allows the simple setup of zone control. My hubby and I ended up choosing a boiler affixed to radiant flooring throughout the house. My fantastic friend and I have been totally satisfied with it.