Gas Boilers: Heat for the Future

Submitted by Randall Radic as part of our contributors program.

For most people, the expense of heating their home and water supply ranks right behind their mortgage payment. So it’s surprising that more people don’t replace their present very inefficient system with a gas boiler, like a Weil McLain Ultra Boiler. A gas boiler will not only save the average homeowner tons of cash, but it’s friendlier to the environment, leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

In 1992, government regulations required all new gas boilers to meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Because of these guidelines, gas boilers have increased in efficiency. So much so, that a gas boiler system from the 1970s is thirty-percent less efficient than a modern system. An inefficient gas boiler produces an efficiency rate of sixty-percent. Put simply, that means forty percent of your monthly bill is wasted money. A modern gas boiler measures out at ninety-percent efficiency, which is a difference you can feel in your wallet.

Most of the older systems utilized oil. Oil burns less efficiently than gas, with the result that you have to use more of it to get the same result. In other words, oil is more expensive than gas. In addition, gas emissions do less damage to the ozone layer than oil emissions.

Modern gas boilers can be installed quickly and will replace any type of floor standing or wall mounted gas boiler. The new model gas boilers are usually smaller in size than the older systems, making them ideal for homes where space is at a premium. Gas boilers come complete with digital heating controls that allow you to manage and regulate the boiler’s settings. This feature allows you to ensure your home remains at the desired temperature, while at the same time slashing your month bill.

Other features available on the Weil McLain Ultra Boiler include: a low temperature condensing application; outdoor reset and domestic hot water priority standard; negative regulated gas valve; variable motor speeds to meet heating needs; cast aluminum heat exchanger; and a modulation ration of five to one.

Only a qualified technician should install your new gas boiler. That way everything will work properly and safely. Gas can emit carbon monoxide fumes when it burns. Carbon monoxide, of course, is harmful. So be sure your system is installed by a professional, who knows what he’s doing. Then once a year, have the professional come out and check the system, doing any necessary maintenance. Not only will this provide you with peace of mind, but it will fulfill all insurance and warranty requirements.

In the end, replacing your antiquated system with a technologically advanced, more efficient system will pay for itself.