Boiler Q & A

• Most boiler manufacturers recommend an annual servicing by a qualified technician.  Depending on the conditions found during the service, intervals may be extended to 18 months according to some manufacturers.

• Combustion analysis and air/fuel ratio adjustment.
• Cleaning the heat exchanger and burner.
• Inspecting and cleaning the condensate trap.  
• Checking gas pressure, piping, and safety controls.
• Reviewing error codes and system diagnostics.
• Checking glycol/water condition. 

• Most manufacturers require a proven history of service to keep the boiler eligible for warranty.
• Increased failure rate which can happen at the most inconvenient times, especially during cold weather.
• A buildup of combustion products and outside air contaminants from a lack of service can cause carbon monoxide issues and a shortened boiler lifespan.
• Reduced efficiency along with noise and vibration can also be side effects of not servicing a boiler.

There are questions that need to be asked before this question can be answered.

• Do you live in a smaller home or apartment with 1–2 bathrooms?
• Do you typically use one hot water outlet at a time?
• Is space-saving a priority?
• Do you want lower upfront costs and higher efficiency?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions a combi boiler may be right for you.  However, the following questions should also be answered to see if any additional expenses may present themselves before install.

• What type of water (hard, sediment, iron) do you have?
• How many occupants and what ages are in the home/building?
• Is this number going to increase in the future?

• A failed circulating pump can be the cause of a noisy boiler as the fluid inside the heat exchanger is overheating due to the lack of circulation.
• Scale and deposits inside the heat exchanger can also cause a large amount of noise during boiler operation.

Though there is no set rate, the average residential boiler replacement cost starts around $8000.  These are the factors that can affect the final cost: 

• Boiler size and location
• Piping changes to accommodate new boilers
• Downtime and access
• Additional upgrades

Boiler (Dedicated Hydronic Heating)

Pros:

• Designed specifically for space heating
• Can handle large heating loads efficiently
• Compatible with radiators, in-floor heating, fan coils
• Long lifespan (15–30 years)

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost
• Requires separate domestic hot water system (unless combi)
• Boiler and Indirect Hot Water Tank require larger footprint

Tankless Water Heater (Non-Combi)

Pros:

• Compact and energy-efficient
• Endless hot water for domestic use
• Lower upfront cost than boilers

Cons:

• Not designed for continuous space heating
• May struggle with high flow rates or multiple zones
• Shorter lifespan under heating loads

Hot Water Tank (Storage Tank Heater)

Pros:

• Simple and inexpensive
• Easy to install and maintain
• Can be adapted for small hydronic systems

Cons:

• Limited hot water capacity
• Lower efficiency
• Not ideal for continuous heating or large homes

Tankless Combi Unit (Water Heater + Hydronic Heating)

Pros:

• Dual-purpose: heats water and home
• Compact and efficient
• Ideal for small to medium homes

Cons:

• May not meet simultaneous high demand for heat and hot water
• Shorter lifespan than dedicated boilers
• Requires careful sizing and flow rate management

 Best Use Cases

System Type Best For:

• Boiler - Large homes, multi-zone heating, durability
• Tankless Heater - Domestic hot water only
• Hot Water Tank - Budget setups, small homes
• Combi Unit - Compact homes, moderate heating needs