Are High-Efficiency Boilers In New Jersey Worth It?

Is it time for a high-efficiency boiler in your New Jersey home, or should you stick to your older standard model?

With fuel prices rising, a lot of households in NJ are looking for ways to cut energy costs, and switching to a high-efficiency boiler can potentially be a good option. We’re getting a lot of calls about this right now, so we thought we’d quickly outline the differences, and what to expect from a high-efficiency model.

Should You Upgrade Your Old Standard-Efficiency Boiler?

• Efficiency ratings

In bottom-line terms, the difference between older standard efficiency boilers, and new high efficiency boilers, is how good they are at converting fuel into heat. Based on the standardized Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) scale, all boilers currently being sold have an efficiency rating between 80-100.

This indicates the percentage of fuel-to-heat conversion, but it can also be looked at in terms of money. A standard boiler with an 80 efficiency is wasting 20% of its fuel.  So, for every dollar you spend on fuel, 20c is wasted. On the other hand, a high-efficiency system could have a 98 rating, meaning it’s only wasting 2 cents per dollar.Based on this, you can easily calculate your own potential cost savings.

• Condensing boilers save money

The biggest way that modern high-efficiency boilers reduce fuel waste is through a condensing process. Rather than allowing the exhaust gases to carry heat away from the house, all exhaust is sent through a heat reclamation system first. This captures most of the waste heat and puts it back into the system, greatly increasing efficiency.

• Upfront costs vs long-term savings

A new boiler isn’t cheap; they typically run a few thousand dollars.  That is a lot to pay, and not everyone can afford it. However, if you can, you’re virtually guaranteed to see significant energy savings every month.  Over time, the high-efficiency upgrade will pay for itself and then continue providing cost benefits.

Whether this is worth it for you will mostly depend on your current energy costs, and how long you’re planning on keeping your current home.  It’ll probably take 5-10 years for the upgrade to pay off, so consider your future plans when deciding.

Contact AirTemp for High Efficiency Boilers in New Jersey

Air Temp Service Co. Carries a full range of high-efficiency boilers in New Jersey, at multiple price points. Connect with us to discuss your situation and receive a free cost estimate!