The Pros And Cons Of Heating With Hot Water

Heating with hot water, or boilers, are less common now than they used to be, but they are still a viable option for many homes.

There are two types of hot water heating systems:

1. Hydronic heating
2. Steam heating

Hydronic heating systems boil water to the appropriate temperatures and then send the water through pipes to radiators, baseboard heaters, or radiant floor tubes. A steam hot water heating system creates steam to provide the heat which it circulates to the radiators.

The Pros Of Hot Water Heating Systems

One of the biggest benefits that homeowners enjoy with a hot water heating system is the residual warmth that continues even after you shut the system off. The water in the radiator remains hot so you can continue to feel the heat even hours later. By comparison, a forced-air heating system stops distributing warm air as soon as you shut it off. This can lead to drafts.

With radiated heat, you may feel warmer because there’s no breeze caused by the hot air being blown through ducts and out into your room. Even though the air is warm, the air movement can cause you to feel a somewhat cool breeze.

When you have a furnace or forced air heating system, there’s a fair amount of noise that’s unavoidable. As the fan blower distributes the air throughout the air ducts, you may hear that creaking sound as cold ducts heat up. You’ll also hear the fan and the air circulation. With hot water heating, the air isn’t forced out so the heating system is quiet. Learn more about what is forced air heating.

Because there’s no air moving with a hot water heating system, you won’t be spreading pollen, dust, or allergens that are in ducts and pushed out into your home by the fans. There’s also no need for clean air ducts since they’re not necessary to distribute the heat.

Here’s another advantage that may not be obvious. Furnaces blow the air out into rooms. Many of the vents to distribute the air are in the ceiling. They heat the air in the room, but not surfaces. A boiler, or hot water heating system, is usually distributed near the floor with radiators of floor pipes. This tends to keep the floor and surfaces warmer. That can be an important distinction when you first get out of bed on those cold winter mornings.

When it comes to costs, it is generally cheaper to use a hot water heating system rather than a forced-air heating system.

The Cons Of Hot Water Heating Systems

A hot water heating system will be more expensive to install. There is the possibility that boiler systems could leak if a pipe breaks since they use water to warm the air. Most systems have at least a 15-year lifespan and breaks are very rare.

You also will not be able to add air conditioning to a hot water heating system. A boiler uses water to distribute the heat, which isn’t conducive to chilling air. A furnace or forced-air heating system uses ducts to deliver the warm air. The same ductwork can be used to distribute cool air throughout your home. If you already have a furnace, you may need to add an A/C unit. Many homeowners opt for an all-in-one solution (HVAC) which provides heat in the winter and cooling in the summer.

There’s also a little difference in start-up times. With a forced air heating system, you adjust the thermostat and it fires up the gas burners or the electric coils and starts distributing warm air fairly rapidly. Boilers take a little more time to get the heat out since they have to bring the water up to temp or create enough steam to heat the pipes. Compare the differences between boiler vs water heater in our latest homeowner guide.

Choosing A Hot Water Heating System

There are plenty of reasons to choose a hot water heating system when you’re deciding how to keep your home warm. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully before you make any investment.