SPS Mechanical Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Boiler’

Is It Time to Replace Your Boiler?

Monday, November 18th, 2019

Boilers last for an incredibly long time when maintained correctly. We’ve seen boilers that are old enough to be getting their Ph.D. degree, while still being able to effectively heat a home. That being said, not every boiler is going to last this long and we’re here to give you some tips to help you see if it’s time to replace your old faithful.

Think of heating in Sewell, NJ like you would an older car. Sure, a 20 or 30-year-old car might have its problems, but if it’s lasted this long, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep it up to snuff right? Well, when it comes to boilers, you’re going to want to make sure it works and that it works as efficiently as possible. Otherwise, you’re basically burning money every month for energy costs that you’d rather not pay.

Interested? Let’s see if your boiler could use a replacement.

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Benefits of Converting to Natural Gas Systems

Monday, February 25th, 2019

money-see-sawWhile we can appreciate the benefits of oil-fueled heating systems, here’s the truth:

Natural gas is doing the same job, but better.

If you’ve been thinking about converting to natural gas, now is as good a time as any to do it. The benefits of natural gas system are hard to ignore. Plus, you won’t have to change your life too much to accommodate it—you can still use furnaces and boilers with natural gas. Here’s why it’s a good idea to switch now:

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The Benefits of Boiler Installation

Monday, September 19th, 2016

Heating season is almost here, and that means it’s time to make sure that your home is outfitted with a proper heating system. If you are in the market for a new heating system, it’s important that you consider the pros and cons of different models before deciding on one. Let’s take a look at the different advantages of boiler systems, and how they can meet your heating needs.

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When a Boiler is Your Best Choice for Heating

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

As we move into the winter season, a lot of homeowners are thinking about installing new heating system. It is certainly a good idea to upgrade or replace your heating system in the fall, to ensure that you’re well-prepared for the winter months. There are a lot of choices to be made regarding which system will best fit your home, however. Let’s have a look at when a boiler is your best choice for heating.

Radiant Heating vs Forced Air

The primary reason to choose a boiler over a furnace or heat pump is the heating system it uses. A boiler forms the core of radiant heating systems, which distribute heat by circulating hot water instead of air. Pipes are installed throughout the house, usually through the floor or inside the walls. These pipes can have external parts, like baseboard heaters or radiators. As the boiler heats water, it distributes it through these pipes. Heat from the water radiates through the pipes, or the external radiators, and into the room.

Radiant heating provides a number of advantages over forced air systems. One of these advantages is that radiant systems heat a room much more evenly than forced air systems. Warm air naturally rises to the top of a room, where it is of little use to those who need it. Since radiant systems transmit heat through solid objects instead of through the air, the heat stays near the floor of the room where it is most needed.

Another advantage is energy efficiency. Forced air systems lose approximately 30% of their heat to duct leaks on average. Water is a much more efficient thermal conductor than air is, allowing radiant systems to deliver more heat to the house without losing a large percentage to a duct system.

There are a couple of considerations to make before choosing a boiler, though. The first is time. Installing a boiler-based system can be more labor intensive than forced air systems, so make sure you are willing to invest the time. Radiant systems require more of an upfront investment, though they eventually pay for themselves in savings on your heating bill.

If you are interested in installing a new boiler system this fall, call SPS Mechanical Inc. We install boilers all over Deptford Township.

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Why You Should Switch To a Natural Gas Boiler

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Boilers can be great heating systems for your home. They heat evenly and maintain good moisture control during the winter months, and have energy efficiency comparable to other systems. But you have a choice of fuel when it comes to your boiler in Cherry Hill: oil or natural gas. And if you have been using oil, you may want to consider converting your system to natural gas. Why? We’ll outline some reasons below, but remember that any boiler installation or replacement services should be handled only by trained technicians. The NATE-certified technicians at SPS Mechanical Inc., can help you convert to your boiler to natural gas – call us today.

Some Benefits of Switching to a Natural Gas Boiler

Here are some benefits of using natural gas instead of oil for your boiler:

  • Versatility – natural gas can be used for a number of appliances in addition to your heating system, such as hot water heaters, dryers and stoves. Oil can only be used for your heating and hot water.
  • Clean burning – with natural gas, there is no soot or odors as there can be with oil.
  • Easier maintenance – because oil heaters tend to get dirtier, they can require more extensive maintenance. As discussed above, gas burns cleanly, which makes maintenance easier and less costly.
  • Convenience – natural gas can be piped into your home, so you never have to worry about running out or managing delivery, as you do with oil.
  • May cost less – traditionally, natural gas costs less than oil, which can save you money each heating season.
  • Better energy efficiency – the AFUE rating of gas boilers averages 89% while the AFUE rating of oil boilers is about 80%. This can be a significant savings for some households.
  • Gas-powered boilers usually cost less – boilers that use gas to heat the water are typically less expensive systems to buy.

Items to Note About Conversion

There are costs associated with converting from oil to natural gas. These costs can involve the removal of an old oil tank and/or the removal of an old oil boiler if you are replacing it. There may be additional costs if your oil tank is buried, as excavation will be necessary to remove it.

If you have been thinking about converting your boiler in Cherry Hill to natural gas, call the experts who can help you with every step of the process: SPS Mechanical Inc.

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Saving Energy with a New Boiler

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

If you’ve decided to install a gas boiler in your home, you are making an investment in long-term performance and energy savings. Boilers have a reputation for longevity, easy maintenance, and relatively few repair needs. This long service life means a lengthy period of payback for your initial installment costs.

Boilers will save you money in other ways, although it will require some work from your end. We’ll look at how you can save on your energy bills with your new boiler in Gloucester County, NJ. Call SPS Mechanical Inc. today to talk to our boiler specialists and find out your options boilers and how you can make the most of a new installation.

The energy saving possibilities of a new boiler

A boiler will provide you an immediate reduction on your bills if you’ve switched from a gas or electric furnace. Since boilers do not use air ducts to send heat around your house, but instead pipes leading to radiators and/or baseboard heaters, they lose less heat during their heating cycle.

Boilers score much higher AFUE ratings than the majority of furnaces. Look for a boiler with the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR label. A boiler that qualifies for the ENERGY STAR label must have at least an AFUE of 85%, which is 6% more efficient than models that meet the federal minimum standard for federal efficiency, and 7% more efficient than the ENERGY STAR requirements for a gas furnace. You can also choose to invest in a high efficiency boiler that has improved heat exchangers that rapidly move the heat from the gas jets to the water in the tank. Talk to boiler installation technicians to find out which systems will work best for you.

To receive the maximum savings from your new boiler, it must be properly sized for your home: this also requires the work of professionals. Make sure you start out with an installation that will let your boiler deliver you the most energy-saving performance possible.

Although boilers have simple maintenance, that doesn’t mean you can slack off on scheduling it. Make sure you arrange an annual visit from a technician who can check to see that all the components of your system work well, and no repair need will impair its performance. Only a boiler in the best working shape will return the savings you expect from its AFUE rating.

Start with professional installation

Have experienced boiler installers involved from the beginning. They will assist you with selecting an efficient unit, sizing it, and then installing it properly so you will start out with high energy savings. Rely on the same team for maintenance as well.

SPS Mechanical Inc. has a team of expert installers ready to help you with a new boiler in Gloucester County, NJ. We are also available 24/7 for emergency repairs.

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