Whether you are a new homeowner or have lived in the same house for decades, there are two major reasons why you need to take care of your home’s heating systems.

1. Who wants to be without heat in the winter? 
2. Expensive to replace.

Let’s begin by reviewing the different types of heating systems currently in use.

Types of Heating Systems

There are effectively two types of heating systems used in residential home construction: furnace and boiler.  A furnace heats up air and then pushes that air through ductwork using a fan.  A boiler heats up water and distributes the hot water that it creates through pipes to cast iron radiators, baseboard radiators or radiant flooring systems.

Heating System | Pros and Cons

The table below provides a general overview of the pros and cons associated with owning and operating the different heating systems.

Basic Maintenance Requirements

So which one of these heating systems are easier to maintain?  Boilers generally require little to no maintenance by the homeowner.  They could, however, because they hold water leak or worse have a pipe burst which can create an awful mess. Furnaces, on the other hand, generally require the homeowner to just replace the air filter monthly or quarterly to ensure the system operates at peak performance.  The latter, replacing the air filter, is easy to do but you would be surprised how many home owners forget to do it.     

Notwithstanding all the above,  it is highly recommended, regardless of which heating system you use, to have a professional annually inspect or tune it up.  Folks, your heating system is an expensive piece of equipment.  Like your car, you need to maintain it so it can last you a long time.  Treat your heating system the same and gain peace of mind.