The Pros and Cons of Hot Water Heating

Some Points to Consider Before Winter

Now is the time of year to go apple picking, watch horror movies and get your fill of pumpkin spiced treats. But with winter on the horizon, you might already be thinking about the cold days ahead.

Reliable heat is a necessity for homes in and around Chicago. But people who grew up using a furnace may be apprehensive about buying or building a home with a hot water boiler. We’re here to allay any of your fears. The warmth of a radiator heated home simply cannot be matched.

In addition to providing furnace installations and furnace repair in Wilmette, IL, and nearby communities, we also install, repair and maintain boilers. Hot water heating might be less popular to modern builders than forced-air heating, but it will keep your home feeling cozier all winter long.

The Pros of Hot Water Heating:

• Longer lasting heat. When a furnace shuts off, the warmth disappears and you’re more likely to feel drafts. But with hot water heating, the radiators add hours worth of heat because they retain heat from the water in them. The boiler retains so much heat that you can still feel warmth coming from the radiators three to four hours after the system shuts off. This gives your home that consistently cozy feeling that people want during the winter months.
• No breeze. Even though furnaces distribute warm air, the forced air can feel uncomfortable during the winter. The air movement alone can cause you to feel cool when you should be feeling warm. With radiator heat, you will feel warmer at a lower temperature because there’s no breeze.
• Quieter operation. Furnaces can make quite a bit of noise as they blow warm air throughout the home. Since there’s no forced-air component to hot water heating, these systems work much more quietly.
• Better air quality. Forced-air furnaces circulate everything in the air, including dust and other allergens. Because boilers involve no air movement, this will reduce the amount of dust and debris circulating in your home. You also won’t have any air ducts to clean and there will be fewer allergens in the air to purify.

The Cons of Hot Water Heating:

• More expensive to install. Hot water systems are more expensive upfront. However, given the many benefits they provide, we here at American Vintage Home encourage customers to consider everything they stand to gain from hot water heating.
• Cannot add an air conditioner to a boiler. Furnaces are convenient because they can use the same ductwork as air conditioners. To add air conditioning to a radiator-heated home, you must consider alternative duct systems such as SpacePak or Unico or a ductless system. 

What If I Already Have Forced-Air Heating?

If your home currently uses forced-air heating, you can still experience radiator heat without investing in a boiler. The answer is radiant in-floor heating. Providing improved comfort and unmatched energy efficiency, with radiant heating your floor essentially acts as a radiator, warming all of the surfaces in the room. Compared to traditional heating systems, radiant heating has less heat variance from ceiling to floor and is more efficient. In fact, it’s the single-fastest growing segment in the heating industry.

Click here to learn more about radiant in-floor heating and its benefits.

Let’s Discuss Your Options Together

With so many heating and cooling options, the process can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help.

If you aren’t sure which type of heat is right for your home, give us a call. We’ve been installing furnaces and boilers for many years and will help you make an informed decision.

Overall, experience has taught us that you simply can’t mimic the warmth and comfort that boilers provide. Their mechanisms are intrinsically different from furnaces. For customers who want to experience the greatest level of warmth at home, hot water heating can’t be beat.

Trust the experts at American Vintage Home to keep your home nice and cozy this winter. Whether you need to purchase a new system or schedule furnace repair in Oak Park, IL, and beyond, we’re here for you.

To schedule service for your Chicago North Shore home, call American Vintage Home at 847.999.4595 or contact us online today.