During this economic time of turmoil...the war in Iraq, the hurricanes of the season, I think it is important to know what sort of heating system a home has and how to inform buyer clients about how the houses they are interested are heated.  There was a time that electric heat was shunned upon since electricity was/is so expensive.  Now that oil and gas are just as expensive, it is a toss-up to whether there would really be a difference in the expense to heating a home - depending on the system it has.

Most U.S. homes are heated with either A FURNACE OR A BOILER.  These mechanisms are not the same.

• A Furnace heats air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts. 
• A Boiler heats water, providing hot water to:

1. A baseboard system
2. A more modern radiant system that is uses tubing filled with the warm water that the boiler has   heated - which is usually located under the subfloor of a home
3. Older steam radiators

 Boiler Advantages

• Can heat a home without moving air (moving air will cause drafts that will make a house cool in spots)
• It is more energy efficient to transport hot water than hot air
• It is easier to control and zone water
• The heat is not as dry as air that is heated

Furnace Advantages                

• If it leaks, it only leaks air
• There is no water inside to freeze if the power fails

Often times, I hear people use the words boiler and furnace interchangably.  Please know that there is a difference!

Being from Connecticut, I feel it is important to advise buyers of homes to what kind of heating system they are looking at when they are interested in buying a home. Nowadays, there are options for heating a home of which are becoming more popular.  The use of wood to power a heating source can be available in a home.  It could be a wood burning stove (in my area this has always been popular), to pellet stoves,  to wood burning boilers.  These are options we need to be knowledgeable about to inform our clients.

What can you share about this topic??

***If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Eastern CT region, give me a call and find out about the Unique way The Dan Sperduto Home Selling Team does business.***

CONTACT ME NOW : MARLENE@REALTYPROs.com ERA REALTY PROs 170 Flanders Road ~ Niantic, CT 06357 ~ (860) 886-7000 x121 106 Westcott Road ~ Danielson, CT 06239 ~ (860) 779-1943 x121 Direct (860) 884-6169 ~ Fax (860) 691-5011