A lot of New Jersey homeowners ask us which boiler is “best.” That’s a tough question to answer, though, because best is relative—what’s “best” for one homeowner might not be the best option for another.
That said, we’ll explain a few key differences between boilers in order to help you decide which is the best boiler for heating your home.
Difference #1: Fuel Type
For New Jersey residents, we recommend gas heating.
Gas typically produces the most powerful heating and is the most cost-effective of the fuel types, making it the best option for homeowners in cold areas of the country, like New Jersey.
The installation cost for both a gas line and ductwork can add a substantial amount to the initial installation cost, so it may not be the best option for you if:
- You don’t already have a gas line
- You live in a warmer climate and don’t need powerful heating
Alternative fuel types are:
- Oil: Oil is a popular fuel type in areas where natural gas is not available. While this can be a cost-effective fuel type, heating oil has to be delivered to your home and stored in tanks, making it inconvenient.
- Electricity is the most expensive way to run a boiler but is a convenient energy source.
Factor #2: Boiler Type (Traditional or Combination)
New Jersey homeowners have 2 choices when it comes to boiler types:
- Traditional boilers
- Combination boilers
If your home is larger (3 or more bathrooms), we suggest a traditional boiler.
If your home is smaller (2 bathrooms or less), we suggest a combination boiler.
Why?
A traditional boiler heats water inside of a large storage tank. This makes it ideal for homes that have the storage space for a hot water tank.
A combination boiler doesn’t need a storage tank. Unlike a traditional boiler, a combination boiler heats water when it enters the boiler and delivers it straight to the hot water tap (hot water isn’t stored).
While a combination boiler provides “unlimited hot water,” you are limited by how many hot water taps you can run at once. The larger the flow rate of the boiler, the more hot water appliances you can use at the same time.
This makes a combi boiler a great option for homes that rarely use more than one hot water appliance at a time and don’t have space for a hot water storage tank.
You can learn more about the differences between traditional and combi boilers on our blog, “What’s the Difference Between a Combi Boiler and a Traditional Boiler? A New Jersey Tech Explains.”
Factor # 3: Efficiency level
First off, the efficiency level of your boiler is measured in AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). AFUE is always expressed in a percentage.
Here’s how it works: If you have a boiler with an AFUE of 85%, it means that 85% of the fuel it consumes will be turned into heat and 15% of that fuel will be lost via combustion gases.
So what AFUE should you get? Well, it depends on your budget.
A low-efficiency boiler will be less expensive to install but won’t be as efficient, resulting in higher monthly costs. On the other hand, a high-efficiency boiler is more expensive up front but will result in lower monthly utility bills.
If you have the budget for it, we recommend a higher efficiency boiler (95-98%). In colder climates, like New Jersey, having a high-efficiency boiler will save you money over time in monthly energy bills.
If you don’t have the budget for it, your boiler will need to at least meet the minimum efficiency rating (the cheapest efficiency level):
- Gas-fired (hot water and steam): Minimum efficiency of 82%
- Oil-fired (hot water and steam): Minimum efficiency of 84%
Still unsure about which efficiency level is best for you home? That’s what we are here for! Schedule an appointment with an expert.
Ready to find the best boiler?
Our team will come to your home, determine which boiler options could be best for you, and talk to you about your options. When you’re confident that you’ve found the best boiler, we’ll schedule your boiler installation.
Brands we install:
- Lennox
- Weil-McLain
- Navien
- Burnham
Don’t see a particular brand you’re interested in? We can probably still install it. Reach out to us! 